TP 746 
. U58 
Copy 1 


LAMPS AND MINERAL OIL 



FOR 



THE A.KMY. 


























































. U58 
Copy 1 



LAMPS AND MINERAL OIL FOR THE ARMY. 






15181 l o-1 


l 



















TP 746 
. U58 
Copy 1 


LAMPS AND MINERAL OIL FOR THE ARMY 


LAMPS AND MINERAL OIL FOR ARMY USE. 

Tlie subject of furnishing some substitute for candle-light in the Army 
was olten suggested, and from time to time engaged the attention of the 
War Department after the general introduction throughout the country 
of mineral oil for illuminating purposes; but there was an indisposition 
to permit the introduction, even for experiment, of lamps and volatile 
oils possibly explosive and apparently unsafe and dangerous in unskillful 
hands. 

In January, 1879, Capt. James M. Bell, Seventh Cavalry, addressed 
a letter to the Adjutant-General of the Army, setting forth the impor¬ 
tance of providing better lights for barracks and quarters; calling 
attention to the mixed oil composed of about two-thirds lard oil and 
one-third mineral oil in use on railroads for signal-lights; and suggest¬ 
ing the appointment of a Board of Officers to test lamps and oil with a 
view to their introduction into the Army, if found suitable. 

The Commissary-General of Subsistence, to whom the communication 
was referred, conceded the importance of the subject, and suggested 
a reference to an officer of the Quartermaster’s Department at Phila¬ 
delphia for a report as to the particular oil referred to by Captain Bell. 
This reference was accordingly made, and a series of experiments re¬ 
ported by the depot quartermaster at Philadelphia to the Quartermaster- 
General, showing, in substance, that the signal-oil in use on railroads 
was non-explosive; that carbon oil of proper quality was also non-explo¬ 
sive if used with proper burners; and that the cost of illuminating 
with the signal-oil would be four times greater than with mineral oil. 

The papers were referred by the Quartermaster-General to the Com¬ 
missary-General of Subsistence (the Subsistence Department being at 
that time charged with the duty of furnishing lights for the Army), who 
returned them, after consideration, suggesting that the papers be sub¬ 
mitted to the Secretary of War, with recommendation for the appoint¬ 
ment of a Board of Officers by the commanding general Division of the 
Atlantic for the purpose of examining into and reporting upon the sub¬ 
ject of lighting company quarters with oil; also, expressing the opinion 
that no product of coal-oil which he had ever seen should be purchased 
by the Subsistence Department for illuminating purposes, because, if 
such oils were stored with subsistence supplies, the more delicate stores 
would become impregnated with the odor and taste of oil. 


3 



4 


In accordance with this suggestion, the papers were fowarded to the 
Adjutant-General of the Army for the consideration of the Secretary 
of War. The Quartermaster-General was of the opinion that, it the 
danger of the use of mineral oil was to be incurred, the student or 
argand petroleum lamp was preferable to the railroad signal-lamp. 
He was, however, in view of accidents constantly reported, in favor of 
using more candles, if necessary to have more light. 

The General of the Army did not favor the appointment of a Board 5 
did not believe that a Board could solve the problem ; thought experi¬ 
ence was the only test; believed that the lamps and oil in common use 
should be used unless better were invented; that candles were better 
in the West on account of safety in carriage, while near cities officers 
will use what lights they consider best; did not consider uniformity in 
candles, lamps, and oil desirable; and thought that, as in the case of 
fuels, each post should use those easiest supplied. 

The Inspector-General concurred in the views of the General of the 
Army; did not believe that a Board would develop anything new or 
valuable on a subject which experts had studied for years; did not favor 
the introduction of volatile oils; and belierved candles better adapted 
for Army use than oil lamps. 

Upon another reference to the Commissary-General of Subsistence 
that officer urged that something be done to give the Army better lights, 
to afford to enlisted men the opportunity to spend their evenings in 
their quarters profitably for recreation or instruction; did not believe 
that this result could be attained with any allowance of candles as 
cheaply as with lamps and oil; and considered it his duty to again urge 
the appointment of a Board. 

The Inspector-General, without changing his views as to the proper 
lights for the Army, admitted that it might be well to have a Board con¬ 
vened to take the subject into consideration. 

June 21 , 1879, the Secretary of War directed that a Board be con¬ 
vened, as recommended by the Commissary-General of Subsistence. 

Accordingly, a Board of Officers, of which Col. N. H. Davis, In¬ 
spector-General, was president, was convened by Special Orders No. 26, 
Headquarters Division of the Atlantic, June 30, 1879, to meet at Fort 
Columbus, New York Harbor, “for the purpose of fully examining into 
and reporting upon the subject of lighting company quarters with oil,” 
&c. The report of this Board, containing the record of careful and 
elaborate experiments and a recommendation for the supply of lamps 
and mineral oil to the Army, having been referred by the Secretary of 
War to the Quartermaster-General, was returned by him with the rec¬ 
ommendation that steps be taken for the introduction into the Army 
of the system of lighting barracks and quarters recommended by the 
Board, and giving his views at length as to the style of lamp to be used 
and the precautions necessary to prevent accident. 

August 7,1880, the papers were returned to the Quartermaster-Gen- 


5 


eral, with the views of the Commissary-General of Subsistence and the 
Inspector-General indorsed thereon (concurring, substantially, in the 
expediency of the proposed change in the system of lighting barracks 
and quarters), for an expression of his vy3ws as to the sufficiency of the 
appropriation for incidental expenses of the Quartermaster’s Depart¬ 
ment for the purchase of lamps and oil, to carry out the recommenda¬ 
tion of the Board—this having been suggested by the Inspector-Gen¬ 
eral. 

August 12, 1880, the Quartermaster-General referred all papers on 
the subject to a Board of Officers, consisting of Col. S. B. Holabird, As¬ 
sistant Quartermaster-General, Lieut. Col. H. C. Hodges, Deputy Quar¬ 
termaster-General, and Maj. J. M. Moore, Quartermaster, with instruc¬ 
tions to prepare estimates of the expenditure required for the introduc¬ 
tion throughout the Army of mineral oil and lamps ; also, it being evi¬ 
dent that the appropriation for the current year would not justify the 
attempt to supply all military posts at once, to prepare a list of posts 
where trial could be made, the system to be extended to others should 
the result of the trial prove satisfactory and should Congress grant the 
necessary appropriation. 

This Board having submitted recommendations as to the quality of 
oil proper to be used and the method of packing it for shipment to 
posts; the kind of lamps and fixtures best suited for Army use; the 
ratio of issue to troops; the posts to be first supplied; with estimates 
of cost, &c.; the Quartermaster-General reported August 21, 1880, that 
the appropriation for incidential expenses was legally applicable, so far 
as available, for lighting military buildings, and recommended the in¬ 
troduction of the system so far as the appropriation would admit, the 
expense there after to be borne by the appropriation of the Quartermas¬ 
ter’s Department for regular supplies. 

The recommendation having been approved by the Secretary of War, 
lamps of various patterns and mineral oil were procured and sent to 
certain posts for trial. 

After protracted correspondence and much careful experiment in the 
office of the Quartermaster-General, the Army lamp in present use was 
perfected and adopted for use, procured by contract, under advertise¬ 
ment, and issued to the Army. After receipt of the reports from the 
posts first supplied with the new lights, general instructions were pre¬ 
pared and promulgated to the Army in General Orders Ho. 50, Adjutant- 
General’s Office, 1881, and this order, with slight modification (General 
Orders Ho. 80, Adjutant-General’s Office, 1882), governs the subject and 
regulates issues. 

May 1G, 1883, Lieut. Col. H. C. Hodges, Deputy Quartermaster-Gene¬ 
ral, called the attention of the Quartermaster-General to a lamp which 
had been submitted by Mr. J. F. Donnell, of Hew York City, of which 
he had formed a very favorable opinion, and recommended that it be 
tried in comparison with the adopted pattern of lamp, with a view to 


6 


determining’ its adaptability, if found superior, for Army use. The 
Quartermaster-General (General Ingalls) recommended that a mixed 
Board be appointed to examine and report upon the merits of this lamp. 
In accordance with this recommendation, a Board of Officers, of which 
Lieut. Col. R. Jones, Assistant Inspector-General, was president, was 
convened by Special Orders No. 127, Adjutant-GeneraFs Office, June 4, 
1883, to meet at Army Building, New York City, for the purpose. July 
20, 1883, the scope of the powers of the Board was enlarged to include 
an examination into other lamps of different patterns. 

The report of this Board, dated December 7, 1883, recommending 
the adoption of the lamp known as the u Mitrailleuse,” was referred by 
the Adjutant-General of the Army to the Quartermaster-General for 
remark, December 11, 1883. 


REPORT ON LIGHTING COMPANY QUARTERS, ETC. 

BY A BOARD OF OFFICERS. 

Governor’s Island, 

New Yorlc Harbor , November 20, 1879. 
The Assistant Adjutant-General, 

Military Division of the Atlantic, 

Governor’s , Island New York Harbor: 

Sir : The Board of Officers convened pursuant to Special Orders No. 
26, Headquarters Military Division of the Atlantic, of June 30, 1879, 
respectfully submits the following report, and returns herewith the 
papers submitted for its consideration : 

Proceedings of a Board of Officers convened pursuant to the following order: 

Special Orders ) Hdqijrs. Military Division of the Atlantic, 

No. 26. ) Governor’s Island, New York Harbor, June 30, 1879. 

By direction of the Secretary of War, a Board of Officers to consist of Col. Nelson 
H. Davis, Inspector-General; Col. Marcus D. L. Simpson, Assistant Commissary-Gen¬ 
eral of Subsistence ; Asst. Surg. James P. Kimball, Medical Department; Capt. Joseph 
P. Sanger, First Artillery ; First Lieut. Charles Bird, Twenty-third Infantry, is hereby 
appointed to meet at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, on Wednesday, the 2d of 
July, 1879, at 11 o’clock a. m., or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the purpose of 
fully examining into and reporting upon the subject of lighting company quarters 
with oil. The Board will make experiments with various oils, and will report the 
kind of lamp best adapted to the purpose of burning the oil recommended by it, the 
number of such lamps required to properly light a company barrack-room of the 
authorized size, and the average quantity of oil consumed per lamp per hour. 

The Chief Quartermaster of the Division will purchase such lamps, and the Chief 
Commissary of Subsistence such oil and wicks as may be required for the purpose in¬ 
dicated. 

The Board will also examine and report upon a recently invented “candle-lamp,” 
or “holder,” for burning tallow, adamantine, or other candles. 



7 


Papers bearing upon the subject will be sent to the Board for its information and 
for attention in connection with its deliberations. 

By command of Major-General Hancock. 

WILLIAM G. MITCHELL, 
Captain , Fifth Infantry, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 

Official: 


JOHN S. WHARTON, 
Captain , Nineteenth Infantry, Aide-de-Camp. 


Governor’s Island, New York Harbor. 

July 2, 1879. 

The Board met pursuant to the above order. 

Present, all the members. 

The following-named papers, received from the Headquarters Military 
Division of the Atlantic, were read and filed for further consideration, 
to wit: Letter of instructions from Headquarters Military Division of 
the Atlantic; indorsements on communication of Post Treasurer, Platts- 
burg Barracks, &c.; letter of Captain Bell, Seventh Cavalry, and in¬ 
dorsements thereon; letter of E. Lewis, Pennsylvania Railroad Com¬ 
pany, to Captain Lord, Assistant Quartermaster, &c.; copy of letter 
from Charles B. Dudley, chemist, with indorsements; indorsement on 
papers relative to convening of Board, &c.; letter of Adjutant-General 
to Commissary-General, with indorsements thereon; General Orders 
Nos. 17 and 42 of 1870, and 55 of 1877. 

The Board then adjourned to meet at the call of the president 


Governor’s Island, New York Harbor, 

July 17,1879. 

The Board met, pursuant to previous adjournment. 

Present, all the members. 

Between its first meeting and this date the Board held informal meet¬ 
ings for the transaction of business. 

In consideration of the nature and scope of investigation required of 
the Board, and of the other duties its members had to perform, it de¬ 
termined to meet at the call of the president from time to time, as du¬ 
ties and circumstances permitted ; to keep no formal record of its meet¬ 
ings, but to note the results of experiments made, and the information 
gained; to visit persons and places to acquire information ; to procure 
instruments for the purpose of making tests, and to solicit manufact¬ 
urers aud dealers in oils, lamps, burners, &c., to submit samples for 
examination and trial. 




8 


Governor’s Island, New York Harbor, 

September 10,1879. 

The Board met to-day at tlie call of the president. 

Present, all the members, including Surg. J. H. Janeway, IT. S. A., 
who relieved Asst. Surg. J. P. Kimball, U. S. A., pursuant to the fol¬ 
lowing order: 

Special Orders > Hdqrs. Military Division of the Atlantic, 

No. 59. ) . Governor’s Island, N. Y. H., September 8, 1879. 

[Extract;] 

1. Surg. J. H. Janeway, U. S. Army, is hereby detailed a member of the Board of 
Officers convoked by paragraph 1, Special Orders No. 26, current series, from these 
headquarters, vice Asst. Surg. J. P. Kimball, under orders for the Military Division 
of the Missouri. 

*##**#* 

By command of Major-General Hancock. 

William G. Mitchell, 

Captain, Fifth Infantry, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. 

Official: 

Signed, John S. Wharton, 
Captain, Nineteenth Infantry, Aide-de-Camp. 

The Board, after transacting its business, adjourned to meet at the 
call of the president. 


Governor’s Island, New York Habbor, 

November 20, 1879. 

The Board met pursuant to last adjournment. 

Present, all its members. 

The following report of the Board has necessarily been delayed by 
frequent and unavoidable interruptions, by other duties which devolved 
upou members, and by causes beyond its control. 

Under the instructions received, it is directed to fully examine into, 
and report upon, the subject of lighting company quarters with oil; to 
experiment with various oils; to determine the best lamp for burning 
the oil recommended ; the number thereof for properly lighting a bar¬ 
rack room; the average quantity of oil consumed per lamp per hour; 
to report upon a “candle lamp” or “holder” referred to for burning 
candles, and to test and report upon the oil sold by the post trader of 
Governor’s Island, &c. 

Also, “ to take into consideration and report upon the subject of 
proper allowance of candles to be issued to troops, &c., in different lat¬ 
itudes and at different seasons of the year, * * * taking the pres¬ 

ent uniform allowance of candles (one and a quarter pounds to the hun¬ 
dred rations) as the proper allowance for nights of mean length at posts 
of mean latitude.” 

The instructions to the Board, considered in connection with the con¬ 
tents of the papers referred to it, and the importance of the subject of 



9 


inquiry to tlie Army, not only authorize, but in its judgment seem to 
require, that the scope of its investigations should extend to the deter¬ 
mination, so far as practicable, of the most suitable means of lighting 
company quarters (including mess, kitchen, and reading rooms), as well 
as hospitals, guard-rooms, shops, storehouses, stables, public grounds, 
&c., and officers’ quarters, where gas is not used, at the same time of 
fulfilling the conditions of good and adequate light, of safety in its use, 
of facility in suj)plying at reasonable cost the materials therefor, and the 
feasibility of their transportation and storage with security , taking into 
consideration different latitudes and seasons of the year. 

After a careful and protracted investigation by the Board of the sub¬ 
ject-matter submitted to it, having obtained information derived from 
various tests, experiments, and examinations it has witnessed and made; 
from consultations with dealers in oils, candles, lamps, &c., and from 
other sources, it reports results , and, as believed, its conclusions and 
recommendations are based upon substantially correct data . 

Through the courtesy of Col. J. C. Duane, United States engineer, 
photometric with other experiments have been made by and with the 
aid of his expert, Mr. J. Funck (formerly an assistant to the late Pro¬ 
fessor Henry), at the Light-House Depot, Staten Island, New York 
Harbor, where scientific appliances and special facilities were available. 

Most of the pyrometrical,hydrometrical, with photometrical and other 
experiments were made at Governor’s Island, New York Harbor, under 
the direction and supervision of the Board by General Service Clerk 
S. H. Story, whose knowledge of oils and experience in making instru¬ 
mental and other tests made him an efficient assistant. 

The several divisions of the subject-matter are considered in the fol¬ 
lowing order, to wit: 

Oils, candles, candle-holder, lamps (including burners, wicks, and 
ohimneys), conclusions, and recommendations. 


OILS. 

Mineral, animal, vegetable, and fish oils are the kinds principally 
used for purposes of illumination. Mixed oils, made usually by mixing- 
in certain proportions animal and mineral oils, are somewhat used. 

Sperm and lard are the animal oils most used for illumination, and, 
because of the high heat (500° to 700° F.) required to vaporize them, 
are called non-explosive; they chill and congeal from 44° to 2G° F., at 
which temperatures they need artificial heating to fit them for burning 
in lamps; consequently, in very cold weather, they must be liquified by 
heat before they can be used. In warm weather or at ordinarily high 
temperatures these oils burn well in lamps suited to their combustion, 
giving a good light. 

In the large “fountain lamps” of the Light-House Department, in 
which lard oil is burned, the oil is pumped into a reservoir directly over 


10 

the large Argand flame, which keeps it hot, whence it is fed through a 
tube to the burner. 

The “ winter-strained” or “bleached” qualities, which have removed 
the portion that soonest chills when exposed to cold, are the best for 
use in high latitudes and cold seasons, but in the case of lard oil the 
bleached has less illuminating power than the unbleached quality. 
Sperm gives about 5 per cent, less candle-power than lard oil. 

Mixed oils are objectionable for house lights because of the smoke 
and disagreeable odors generally emitted by them, and because they 
may, and i>robably do, contain light carbon oils, which make them 
nearly as dangerous from fire and explosion as are the volatile products 
with which they are mixed. In addition, their relatively high cost, 
when containing animal oils, as compared with better and safe ones, 
justifies their rejection for indoor illumination. For “signal” and 
“switch” lights they are used. 

The sample of mixed oil used by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com¬ 
pany, submitted to and tested by the Board, gave in the lantern lamj) 
furnished 2.19 candle power, emitted an offensive odor with smoke, 
rose to 122° F. in the fount, flashed at 130° F., and ignited at 176° F. 
Its composition is reported to be two-thirds extra lard and one-third 
150° kerosene oil. Mr. Dudley, chemist, employed by the railroad com¬ 
pany, reports its candle power at 1.58 in a No. 2 lard-oil burner, with 
the wick ordinarily used in it. 

As good 150° F. kerosene oil flashes at about 125° F., which is only 
5° below the “flash point” of the Pennsylvania Railroad sample in the 
pyrometrical test made of it, this experiment refutes the idea entertained 
that the mixture of animal with mineral oils is non-inflammable and non¬ 
explosive. 

This sample chilled at 25° F. and solidified at 10° F., showing that 
such mixtures require in low temperatures heating from some source to 
make them suitable for illumination. 

Colza oil (vegetable) is so little used in this country its considera¬ 
tion may be disregarded. 

Kerosene or carbon oils (mineral) are, par excellence , most universally 
used for purposes of illumination. 

In brilliancy and softness of light produced, in the nearly odorless and 
smokeless flame from the best qualities now manufactured, when burned 
in suitable lamps, and in cheapness, they stand unequaled, and chal¬ 
lenge the world for a rival. 

These oils are made from crude petroleum and belong to the hydro¬ 
carbon series. 

For information concerning them derived from a knowledge of the 
process of their manufacture, which may be beneficial to those in the 
Army using them, the following brief description is given: 

The crude petroleum is put into iron stills and gradually heated. Af¬ 
ter the gaseous products ( cymogene and rliigolene) are driven off, come the 


11 


highly volatile gasolene , naphtha , and benzine oils, classed sometimes as 
naphtha , having a gravity of 95° to 60° Beaume, which are run into 
tanks. These volatile and very inflammable products evolve at ordi¬ 
nary low temperatures vapors which ignite by contact with a flame, 
and constitute when mixed with air in proper proportions (in volume 
5 or more of air to 1 of vapor) explosive compounds. They are danger¬ 
ous when burned in lamps unmixed or mixed with other oils. As re¬ 
ported, they are used to adulterate good oils; also have been mixed 
with various ingredients and sold under different names as non-explo¬ 
sive burning fluids. 

The next products of the stills are the kerosene oils proper, which 
have a gravity of about 60° to 35° B., and are run into tanks according 
to density, between the gravities just given. Thence they go to the 
agitators, where they are treated with sulphuric acid and alkali to bleach 
and sweeten them— i. e., to remove coloring matter and odors—and after¬ 
wards, for making the best and safest burning oils, to large shallow 
tanks for exposure to sunlight and air, where they are heated (by steam 
pipes) to eliminate any naphtha that may have remained, to make the 
mass more homogeneous in character, and sometimes they are re-distilled. 

After the kerosene, the distillation produces a heavier grade of oil, 
from which, by a process of chilling, hydraulic pressing, and other 
treatment, are manufactured paraffine wax for candles, and lubricating 
oils, or it is “ cracked ” in high stills into lighter oils and again distilled 
with the petroleum. 

The vapor of carbon oils is not, per se , inflammable or explosive, and 
is so only when mixed with air. But oils that vaporize at ordinary 
temperatures are dangerous for burning in ordinary lamps, because the 
vapor they evolve is liable, after mixing with air, to come in contact 
with the flame. When the lamp is lighted, and more especially if the 
fount is but partly filled and the flame is driven into the fount by blow¬ 
ing down the chimney to extinguish it, or when the oil is spilled or 
thrown out of the lamp by its breakage or by agitation, is this danger 
more imminent. The best guaranty of safety in burning kerosene oil 
is to use a quality that does not vaporize at the temperature it will 
reach in the fount and to use suitable lamps. Under the head of lamps 
the proper ones for this oil are considered. 

The specific gravity of a kerosene oil is not a safe index of its volatile 
and inflammable character, for a comparatively heavy specimen may 
contain a percentage of a very light oil, or naphtha. The proper and 
correct way to determine if an oil is inflammable at low or ordinary 
temperatures is by a pyrometrical test. 

Tagliabue’s pyrometer, with u closed cup,” used by the Board, gave 
uniform and reliable results. The u open cup ” is not considered as cor¬ 
rect. 

Commercially, kerosene oils are graded according to their u burning 
points,” i. e.j the temperature at which they will take fire. But the 


12 


proper and only real safe test is the u flash point,” the temperature at 
which inflammable vapor is first evolved, which, in the experiments 
made by the Board, was shown to be from 25° to 57° F. below the fire 
point of commerce, and the latter is from 3° to 20° F. higher than it 
was shown to be in the experiments referred to. 

The greatest difference between the flash and fire points was found in 
heavy oils. In one instance, the result of three separate tests, it was 
•90° F., and accounted for upon the supposition that the sample tried was 
a mixed oil. 

In the Board’s experiments at Light-House Depot, Staten Island, the 
highest temperathre the oil reached in twenty-three metallic lamps, af¬ 
ter seven hours’ burning with maximum flame, in a room at about 80° 
F., was 107° F.; and with four glass lamps, temperature of room about 
the same, the highest reached was 99° F. 

Prof. C. F. Chandler reports the results of his experiments with 
kerosene oils, to wit: 


FIRST SERIES.—TEMPERATURE OF ROOM, 73° TO 74° F. 
[After seven hours.] 



11 metallic 
lamps. 

12 glass 
lamps. 

Highest temperature reached. 

o p. 

100 

o f. 

86 ’ 

Lowest temperature reached. 

76 

76 

Average temperature reached. 

86 

81 



SECOND SERIES.—TEMPERATURE OF ROOM, 82° TO 84° F; 
[After four hours.] 



13 metallic 
lamps. 

12 glass 
lamps. 

Highest temperature reached. 

° F. 

120 

82 

96J 

° F. 

91 ’ 

84 

86 

Lowest temperature reached. 

Average temperature reached. 




THIRD SERIES.—TEMPERATURE OF ROOM, 90° TO 92°F. 
[After four hours.] 



13 metallic 
lamps. 

12 glass 
lamps. 

Highest temperature reached. 

° F. 

129 

° F. 

QQ 

Lowest temperature reached .. 

84 

ok 

Average temperature reached. 

104£ 

oO 

qoi 

■------- 




The highest temperatures he reported as exceptional. It will be no¬ 
ticed that the temperature of the oil is higher in metallic than in glass 
lamps. 

Therefore, with rare exceptions, it would seem that an oil with a 












































13 


u flash point ” at 120° to 125° F., properly used in good lamps, is safe. 
Its real “burning point” would be about 143° F. A higher grade of 
oil, however, is considered safer and better under all circumstances. 

The lighter oils burn more freely and give usually a more brilliant 
light, especially in capillary lamps, but their consumption is greater 
than with the higher or heavier grades; they are less, or little, affected 
by extreme cold. 

If these oils contain free acid after their treatment with alkali, &c., 
except in nearly an inappreciable quantity, they will corrode metallic 
lamps when used in them, and form upon the chimneys a whitish de¬ 
posit. 

When purchased in quantity they should be tested with litmus paper 
for acid. 

If the acid is neutralized, and the resulting salt is not removed, it 
constitutes an impurity which affects, more or less, the brilliancy of the 
light, hence the less of this salt in the oil the better its quality. 

As directed, the Board has tried and tested pyrometrically the oil 
sold by the post-trader at Governor’s Island, and its quality is shown 
by the following table, to wit: 


Date. 

Flash point. 

Fire point. 

Gravity. 

July 1870, ... 

o F. 

120 

o f. 

142 

Not taken. 

August 14, 1879 ... 

118 

140 

Not taken. 

November 10 1879 » ........ 

114 

145 

49.1 B. 




.. 


The results show that the sample first tested was the most homoge¬ 
neous in character and the best for use. 

The sample last tested shows that it contained lighter grade oils than 
the other samples. . 

The following data concerniug the manner of shipping oils, average 
weight, and cost of packages, &c., is that obtained from manufacturers 
and dealers: 


Oils. 

Capacity. 

Weight. 

Cost of 
packages. 

Kerosene: 

Gallons. 

50 

10 

45 to 50 
100 to 300 
45 to 50 

Pounds. 

70 

18£ 

70 

$1 30 
80 

1 30 


Sperm: 



67 

1 25 



* Heavy oak, iron hooped, and glued inside; white-wood bungs, kiln dried, and put in with glue; 40 
gallons in barrel; can be refilled ; if not, and returned serviceable, paid for. 

t Two 5-gallon tin cans in each wooden case ; can be refilled; if not, and returned- serviceable, paid 
for; cost 3§ to 5 cents more per gallon than in barrels if packages are not returned; they are so made 
as to be used as filling cans; cases also contain one 10-gallon can, and ten 1-gallon cans. 































14 


The average weight of oils as reported is, for— 

Sperm. 

Lard. 

Kerosene of 110° to 150°. 

Kerosene of 200°. 

Kerosene of 300°. 


Pounds, 
per gallon.. 7.25 

....do. 7.6 

_do. 6.5 

....do. 6.75 

_do. 7* 


CANDLES. 


Adamantine, sperm, paraffine, tallow, and wax candles are the kinds 
mostly used for illumination; for Army use, the wax candle, on account 
of its high cost, and the “ tallow dip,” because little used for house 
lights, and of its poor light and greasy character in hot weather, may 
be disregarded. 

The results of several tests with the three remaining kinds above 
mentioned, made under the most favorable conditions, being carefully 
snuffed to avoid coaled wicks, and excluded from currents of air, are 
given in the following table, to wit: 


Candles. 

Average 

weight. 

Consump¬ 
tion per 
hour. 

Time of 
consump¬ 
tion theore¬ 
tically. 

Time of 
consump¬ 
tion practi¬ 
cally. 

Adamantine... 

Grains. 
1176. 3 
1051 
1019 

Grains. 
168.7 
112. 63 
100. 83 

Hours. 

8.9 

9. 20 
10.6 

Hours. 

6.57 

8.16 

9. 421 

Sperm . ... 

Paraffine__ ____ 



The photometrical power compared with the u standard candle,” and 
the relative power of the adamantine and paraffine without snuffing the 
wick, is given below, to wit: 


Candles. 

Standard 

candle, 

average 

power. 

Relative 
power first 
10 mirutes. 

Relative 
power sec¬ 
ond 10 
minutes. 

Relative 
power after 
20 minutes. 

Adamantine. 

1. 05 

1.10 

.76 

.60 

Paraffine... 

.80 

.90 

1.24 

1.40 



The wick of the admantine coals and clouds the flame unless frequently 
snuffed; the sperm has the same defect in a less degree; the paraffine 
is more nearly free from this coaling, its wick being consumed as the 
caudle is burned; it therefore gives a more uniform and the most light, 
as compared with the adamantine, unless the latter is kept well snuffed, 
as above shown, and in point of consumption it has about 40 per cent, 
in its favor. 

Paraffine wax as now made melts not below 132° F. 

The cost of the three kinds of candles above considered, in quantity, 
at the present prices current, is, per pound, about 15 cents for adaman- 

































15 


tine, 18 cents for paraffine, 25 cents for sperm, and 35 cents for patent 
sperm, with an upward tendency in the market price. 

Sperm and paraffine candles are packed 36 in a box, and six of these 
small boxes are packed in a larger one, the net and gross weights of 
which being, respectively, 31£ and 41 pounds. 

Adamantine candles are packed 180 in one box, the net and gross 
weight being, respectively, 30 and 36J pounds. 

The adamantine is the kind now issued to troops, at the rate of 20 
ounces to 100 rations, which gives to a company of 40 average strength, 
15 pounds monthly or 3 candles daily, to furnish light for the first ser¬ 
geant’s, squad, mess, and kitchen rooms, all of which require lighting. 
With this allowance, it is reasonable to expect that the soldiers will find 
their quarters dark, cheerless, and uninviting, and that they should ask 
for more light; the somber stove now used for heating barracks, and 
around which they gather in the long winter evenings, gives not that 
blaze of light and cheer they were wont to enjoy in former days from 
big wood fires in capacious fire-places, that lighted and warmed their 
rooms. 

To promote the comfort and add to the general welfare of the enlisted 
men of the army, some other and better than the beggarly light fur¬ 
nished by the flickering flame of a single candle should, it is thought, 
be given them. 

With regard to determining the proper allowance of candles to be is¬ 
sued in different latitudes, directed in letters of the Adjutant-Gen¬ 
eral to the commanding general Division of the Atlantic of the 9th and 
28tli of last August, and indorsement of the Commissary-General, of 
the 21st same month, the Board reports that it is found, in respect to lat¬ 
itude, that various conditions exist which do not seem to admit of rec¬ 
ognition in a system that shall be productive of good, simple, practi¬ 
cable, working results. Among such conditions may be mentioned the 
very short twilight of a low latitude, like that of Fort Brown, making 
artificial light necessary earlier, after sunset, than in a high latitude, 
like that of Fort Pembina, the greater solar heat in a low latitude mak¬ 
ing candles burn away faster than in a high latitude, &c. For reasons, 
such as those suggested, the Board adopts the doubt expressed by the 
Commissary-General as to whether “any variations should be made on 
account of latitude,” and restricts its report to the subject of the “proper 
allowance of caudles to be issued to troops,” &c., “ at different seasons 
of the year * # * taking the present uniform allowance of candles 

(1| pounds to the 100 rations) as the proper allowance for nights of 
mean length.” * * * The Board also considered “ what issues shall 

be made in the different months of the year,” and “ the question of issue 
to guards.” Exhibits herewith in tabulated form (A and B) show allow¬ 
ances of candles considered for “each month of the year,” for “each 
season of the year,” and for “summer and winter periods;” for “ issues 
to troops,” and “issues extra”—guards respectively—upon the basis 


16 


directed in the instructions herein referred to. The allowances most 
approved by the Board, as involving fewer changes, and, because of such 
instructions, recommended, are those appearing in last columns of the 
exhibits herewith. 

The foregoing is submitted as the report required under the instruc¬ 
tions herein referred to. 

The Board reiterates that it deems the present allowances of candles 
(20 ounces per 100 rations for general issues, and 12 pounds per month 
for guards) as entirely inadequate to a proper lighting of soldiers’ quar¬ 
ters, &c., even for the shortest nights; in fact, as only rendering dark¬ 
ness visible—creating gloom and dullness where all should be bright 
and cheerful. The soldier should have ample light for night duties, 
study and recreation, in order that he may be better fitted for the serv¬ 
ices he is expected to perform; and any allowances of light necessary 
for such purpose should be liberally granted. 

Exhibit A. 

FOR u ISSUES TO TROOPS.” 


Allowance of candles, considered for each month of the year, for each season of the year , and 
for summer and winter periods, taking the present uniform allowance (20 ounces per 100 
rations) as the proper alloivance for nigh ts of mean length (12 hours*). 



Allowance. 

Months. 

Actual. 

Round 

Figures. 

January. 

Oz. 

23* 

Oz. 

23 

February . 

21f 

22 

March (mean). 

20 

20 

April. 

18* 

18 

May. 

16f 

17 

June (shortest) .... 

15 

15 

July. 

16! 

17 

August. 

18* 

18 

September (mean).. 

20 

20 

October. 

21! 

22 

November. 

23* 

23 

December (longest). 

25 

25 


240 

240 


owance. 


Allowance. 


Months. 



Months. 


Spring: 


Summer period: 



a u 



March (mean).. 

April. 

May. 


Oz. 

18* 

18* 

18* 


Oz. 

18 

18 

18 


Summer: 


April.. 

May. 

June (shortest). 

July. 

August. 


Oz. 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 


June (shortest) 

July. 

August.. 


16f 

16| 

16§ 


17 

17 

17 


Fall: 


Sept, (mean)_ 

October. 

November. 


21 f 
21# 
21 ! 


22 

22 

22 


Winter: 


Dec. (longest) .. 

January. 

February . 


23 ! 

23> 

23* 



240 


240 


Winter period: 


Sept, (mean)_ 

22 

1-7 

22 

October. 

22 

1-7 

22 

November. 

22 

1-7 

22 

Dec. (longest) .. 

22 

1-7 

23 

January. 

22 

1-7 

22 

February . 

22 

-7 

22 

March (mean).. 

22 

1-7 

22 


240 

240 




Round figures. 


















































17 


Exhibit B. 

FOR ISSUES EXTRA”—GUARDS. 

Allowance of candles, considered for each month of the year, for each season of the year, and 
for summer and winter periods, taking the present uniform allowance (12 poundsper month) 
as the proper allowance for months having nights of mean length (12 hours*). 


Months. 


January . 

February . 

March (mean). 

April. 

May . 

June (shortest).... 

July.. 

August.. 

September (mean) . 

October. 

November. 

December (longest) 

Total . 


Allowance, actual. 

Months. 

Lbs. 

14 

SPRING. 

March (mean). 

13 

12 

April... 

May .. 

11 

SUMMER. 

June (shortest). 

10 

Julv.. 

9 

August. 

10 

FALL. 

September (mean). 

11 

October. 

12 

November. 

13 

WINTER. 

December (longest). 

14 

January . 

15 

February. 

144 

Total. 


Lbs. 

11 

11 

11 


10 

10 


10 


14 

14 

14 


144 


Months. 


SUMMER PERIOD. 


April. 

May. 

June (shortest). 


July.... 

August. 


WINTER PERIOD. 
September (mean) .. 


October. 

November. 

December (longest). 


January.. 

February . 

March (mean) 


Total 


Allowance. 


Lbs. 

10 * 

m 

10i 


101 

ioi 


13? 


13? 

13? 

13? 


13? 

13? 

13? 


144 


P 

be 

cp 


Lbs. 

10 

10 

10 


10 

10 


13 


13 

14 
14 


14 

13 

13 


144 


* Round figures. 


CANDLE-HOLDER. 


The “ candle-holder,” which the Board is directed to examine and re¬ 
port upon, is the pattern of brass candlestick used by Army officers 
many years since. It has a cylindrical tube, into which is put the can¬ 
dle by compressing a spiral spring intended to push it up as burned 
away; a cap-section, slightly conical at the top, and opeu, is adjusted 
to the upper part of the main tube, which holds down the candle. 

The objections to this candlestick are, that the spring clogs with 
melted parts of the candle that drip into it—in one trial 82.J grains— 
from which cause, and sometimes that of its weakness, it does not reg¬ 
ularly-and sufficiently raise the candle as burned; consequently, the 
flame gradually sinks within the cap-section, and, for want of oxygen, 
ceases to vaporize the candle, consumes its wick, and frequently goes 
out; that it is difficult or impossible then to relight the candle in the 
tube, and after the melted and soft parts of it have cooled and hardened, 
it is also difficult to get it out, or the spring to be cleaned. These ob- 
15181 l o-2 

































































18 


jections to it, made in former years, are now made by officers at Gov¬ 
ernor’s Island, who have recently practically tested it. 

To this “ candle-holder v is adjusted a parabolic reflector, with an 
opening cut on one side, through which passes the candle tube, so that 
the candle flame shall be in the focus, which is about three quarters of 
an inch from its vertex; over the flame is cut a circular opening, about 
1 J inches, for draft and the passage of smoke. 

This reflector casts a beam of light (with a small cross-section), which 
strikes the horizontal plane on which stands the holder, about 30 inches 
from its base; this reflected beam of light increases, within a limited 
space, the illuminating power of the naked candle 5.5 to 18.8 times, as 
was shown by photometrical experiments; in one instance, just after 
■snuffing the candle-wick, the flame flashed a beam which gave 25.18 can. 
die power ; the intermittent flaring and flashing of the flame often made 
it difficult to properly adjust the reflector of the photometer, and take 
its reading. The average of the most satisfactory results showed about 
9 to 12 candle power, if the candle was kept well snuffed ; if not, it soon 
diminished to one-half this power. These trials were made with new, 
highly-polished nickel-plated reflectors. 

While this reflector improves so much the light of a single candle 
thrown upon a book or paper for reading or writing, or upon some ob. 
ject to be examined, when placed within the beam, and lights much bet¬ 
ter a limited portion of a room than does the candle without it, these 
advantages, it is found by trial, are coupled with disadvantages, as, the 
difficulty of keeping the book or paper referred to properly adjusted to 
the beam of light; the unsteadiness of the light caused by the flicker¬ 
ing candle-flame, and the presence of a light shadow, which flits and 
dances over the paper when reading or writing, which is very annoying 
and trying to the eyes ; moreover, sometimes the currents of air through 
the circular opening put out the light, and two persons cannot well read 
or write by it at the same time. 

A chimney about 2 inches high was put on the reflector, which in¬ 
creased the draft and caused the flame to flicker less, but one-fourth to 
one-third of its volume intermittently darted through the chimney hole 
and up the chimney; the flitting shadow continued. 

The Board has suggested that the chimney-opening be cut slightly 
elliptical and higher on the reflector, that the cap-section be made cyl¬ 
indrical, with an internal flange at top to hold in the candle, and that 
a joint be made in the candle-tube near its base to give it motion of a 
few degrees in a vertical plane and laterally, which modifications, it is 
believed, would be improvements. 

LAMPS. 

The Board has examined and experimented with a great variety ot 
lamps, to find such ones as will give a good light, reduce the danger 


19 


from use, if any, to the minimum, be durable and reasonable in cost, 
and, generally, well adapted for the purposes for which they are required. 

The complete lamp includes the burner, wick, and chimney, besides 
the font which contains the oil, which are the principal and important 
parts to be considered. The quality and power of the light produced, 
depend mainly upon the burner , tcick, chimney and oil used, aud the 
manner it is supplied from the font to the wick; these different parts, 
and the oil, are considered under their respective heads. 

The two general classes into which lamps are here divided are, first, 
the one in which the oil is fed to the flame by capillary attraction, and 
called capillary lamps; the other class includes those in which the sup¬ 
ply of oil to the flame is regulated by atmospheric pressure and gravi¬ 
tation, represented by the u student’s lamp,” and varieties of this, called 
constant-level lamps, and modifications of these. 

In capillary lamps the wick raises the oil, which labor it does very 
well if of a suitable kind, with rather light oils in comparatively shal¬ 
low fonts. With heavy oils this labor is greater, and the wick, in deep 
fonts, as the oil is consumed, fails to supply it in a constant quantity, 
whereby the light gradually diminishes in brilliancy. 

In the constant-level lamps, the oil is so supplied to the wick as to 
preserve its constant level with regard to the flame, thus maintaining 
its power and intensity until the font is exhausted. In this class of 
lamps heavy or light oils can be satisfactorily used, and danger from 
their ignition or explosion is virtually eliminated. 

Metallic fonts are more durable aud not so liable to break as are the 
glass ones, but, as before stated, increase relatively somewhat the tem¬ 
perature of the oil in the font, although not enough to make them 
objectionable with good oil of 150° F. commercial grade. 

The two classes of lamps mentioned, with their modifications, are 
used as stand, bracket, and swing or pendent lamps; they are made of 
a variety of forms and styles, to please the eye and gratify the taste. 

Several patterns of the constant-level lamp have been made for the 
Board for its trials and experiments, designed for use as stand, bracket, 
or pendent lights, including both the round and flat wick kinds, and to 
be used wth adjustable reflectors. 

The most satisfactory patterns tried are the Funck, Manhattan, and 
Cleveland Non-Explosive Company’s lamps. 

The expansion of kerosene oil by heat (which is somewhat greater 
than that of sperm and lard), and its peculiar property of great surface 
attraction or power of creeping over surfaces, will often account for the 
film of oil on the outside of the lamp after having been cleaned and 
filled (too full), which the housekeeper usually attributes to leakage. 
This thin spread of oil soon vaporizes by heat, hence the odor, some¬ 
times unaccounted for, and sometimes ignition 5 the more highly pol¬ 
ished the surface the less will be this spread of oil-sweating. 

No particular form of lamp has been tried for lighting post grounds 5 


20 


the ordinary metallic fount shaped to fit the holder for it, with whichever 
kind of oil used, is deemed suitable. 

For lighting stables, storehouses, etc., and for the use of guards, the 
Board has tried with satisfactory results, the “ tubular lantern,” and 
modification of it as a hanging or bracket lantern ; the latter has a re¬ 
flector, and gave with 200° kerosene oil, 23.10 candle power; the hand 
or hanging lantern, with an u A” burner and 200° oil, gave 6.24 candle 
power, with one ounce consumption per hour; it can be swung around 
and over the head without extinguishing the light. The lamps in both 
can be lighted or put out without being removed. With regard to the 
light given and safety in its use, these lantern lamps are considered the 
best within the knowledge of the Board. Report says that the Frank¬ 
lin Institute pronounced this the best lantern; they are used in the 
Light-House Department. They are made of tin, with a bulbo-cylin- 
drical glass, and cost, by the quantity, about $9 per dozen. 

BURNERS. 

The burner is the most important part of the lamp with regard to the 
light produced, the power and brilliancy of which depend upon the 
proper combustion of the vapor of the oil, and this combustion depends 
upon the supply of oil and air to the flame, which is regulated (includ¬ 
ing wick) by the burner, and it also determines the shape and volume 
of the flame, and, very much, its character with respect to odor and 
smoke. 

The conditions of a good burner are that it takes a suitable wick for 
the oil used, compresses, raises, and lowers it evenly , creates two or more 
currents of air of such force and direction that oxygen will be adequately 
and properly supplied to the flame, and is strong, durable, and easy of 
manipulation for trimming wicks, cleaning, attaching, and detaching 
chimneys. For heavy oils in cold weather, the more it heats them the 
better ; but it is the reverse with kerosene oils not of the heavy grades. 
Its construction should be such as to reduce the possibility of igniting 
the oil or vapor in the fount by its flame to the minimum. 

They are divided into the two classes of round (argand) and flat wick 
burners. Of the first class, the sizes ordinarily used are Nos. 1 and 2; 
of the second class, 0, A, and B. No. 2 and B are the largest of the 
sizes here given, the first being seven-eighths and one inch in diameter; 
the other seven eighths of an inch wide. 

There is a great variety of patterns, mostly in the second class, each 
one claiming some special merit, and being generally patented. 

Some thirty-odd burners have been carefully tested by the Board. 

The shape of the flames with the argands differed little, while with 
the flat wicks there were a variety of shapes, including fisli-tail, bat¬ 
wing, fan, crescent-top, rectangular, with modifications of these forms. 
The fish-tail and crescent-top varieties smoked and frequently broke 
the chimneys, although great care was taken in trimming the wicks, 
regulating the light, and using chimneys specially adapted in form to 


21 


the burners under trial. In several cases the light was good, with a 
well-shaped, uniform flame giving little or no perceptible smoke or odor, 
while some failed to burn satisfactorily kerosene oil of 200° or a higher 
grade. Different grades of kerosene, also sperm and lard oils, were 
tried. The experiments with sperm and lard oil proved that the burn¬ 
ers for kerosene were unsuitable for these oils, and that the light, when 
they were tried with these burners, soon went out. Lard and sperm oils 
require the flame near them,but kerosene more distant,about 2 inches. 
With the animal oils tested were used the lard-oil lamps for lighting 
the grounds at Governor’s Island. For carbon oils, several of the burn¬ 
ers tried, most suitable for army use in the judgment of the Board, were 
selected, with which were made additional trials. 

The grades of oils taken for experiments were the best quality of win¬ 
ter strained sperm and lard and the commercial kerosene of 150°, 200°, 
and 300° F. fire-test , including those of 15° to 20° F. higher or lower 
market grades. No. 2 round and B flat wick burners were used in the 
experiments noted below. The “ standard candle” is taken as the unit 
4 of power in the photometrical tests. 

The following data gives the general results of the Board’s experi¬ 
ments, omitting the details in each of the many tests made and small 
.decimal fractions: 


Oils. 

Burners. 

Average 

candle 

power. 

Consump 
tion per 
hour. 

Sperm. 

Bound 1 inch. 

14.32 

Ounces. 
2.50 

Lard ... 

.do.. 

18.24 

2.25 

K.150°. 

Round seven-eighths inch. 
Flat B. 

18. 39 

2.48 

K. 150° . . 

11. 86 

1.68 

K. 200°. . 

Round seven-eighths inch. 
Flat B. 

17.19 

1. 93 

K. 200° . 

11. 52 

1.51 

K. 300° . .. 

.do. 

8. 74 

1. 33 

K. 300° . 

Round*. 






*Xot tried with this burner. 


The Manhattan, Monarch, Richmond, Sun-hinge, Eastlake, and Dual, 
flat-wick burners selected by the Board, gave average results, to wit: 

Oils, K. 150° and 200°$ average candle power, 12.98; consumption 
per hour, 1.62 ounces. 

Funck’s seven-eighths, and the “Cleveland Non-explosive Lamp Com¬ 
pany’s” 1-inch round burners, the best ones tried of this class, showed 
the following average results: 

Oils, K. 150° and 200°; average candle power, 18.77; consumption 
per hour, 1.96 ounces. 

The candle power of the round wicks, as compared with the flat ones 
with the same oils, with the burners selected, is seen to be 144.6 per 
cent., and consumption per hour nearly 121 per cent. With sperm, lard, 
and the heavy kerosene oils, in capillary lamps, the light gradually 
lessens in power as the oil is consumed. 

The Funck seven-eighths-incli argand burner gave greater candle 
power than any other one of the same or 1 -inch size tried, with an 






















22 


$ 

average consumption of about If ounces per hour. It, and the Manhat¬ 
tan, gave the most steady and uniform light of any of the round and fiat 
wick burners, although some of the latter exceeded in power that of the 
Manhattan. These two, with reflectors, gave, respectively, 74.8 and 03 
candle power, as the maximum result of several trials. The experiments 
proved that with suitable reflectors, properly adjusted to put the flame 
in their foci, the power of the light is increased very much; that it can 
be diffused at different angles, or reflected in a beam, according to its 
distance from the reflector, and that the use of adjustable reflectors will 
increase much its utility for general use in the service. 

With the same kind of oil, the round-wick burners diffuse equally the 
light in all directions, while with the flat-wick class it is about five- 
twelfths less edgewise than in the broadwise direction. 

WICKS. 

With illuminating oils, the character of the flame with regard to vol¬ 
ume and brilliancy, as well as the consumption of oil, depend much 
upon the kind and quality of the wick used. 

To insure a good light, the wick must regularly and adequately sup¬ 
ply the flame with the oil needed for combustion. 

Non-combustible, chemical, and the ordinary cotton wicks are used; 
the first two named are disregarded from further consideration as being- 
unsuitable for the service. Cotton wicks should be made of the “long 
staple,” be free from knots and bunches, and soft to the touch ; they are 
made round and flat, thick and thin: the threads should be loosely 
twisted or plaited, and the wicks have a light or thin woof. 

In capillary lamps the thick wicks are considered the best for sperm, 
lard, and the 300° or heavy grades of kerosene oils. With the 200° and 
lighter grades of kerosene, the comparatively thin wicks, if of the 
proper quality, have shown the best results; they are preferable with 
the argand burners and in the constant level lamps. 

Wicks, when new and first used, should be cut carefully and evenly 
with the top of the wick-tube, and generally the corners clipped off a 
trifle . Afterwards they usually require little trimming with scissors, it 
being only necessary to lower them in the tube and strike or rub off the 
carbonized tops evenly therewith. 

If more care were taken in selecting suitable wicks and trimming them 
properly than is the case generally, the result would be a better light, 
with less odor and smoke from the flame. 

The Fletcher Manufacturing Company, of Providence, R. I., has a 
high reputation for making excellent lamp-wicks. 

CHIMNEYS. 

There are a variety of forms of lamp chimneys, some of which are 
designed for particular kinds of burners, and, with respect to the draft 
created, form a part of them; others are shaped for general applica¬ 
tion ; they are attached to the burner by means of screws, clasps, and 
springs, the latter being usually the most convenient. 


23 


If the chimney is quickly and unequally heated it frequently breaks— 
a cause of annoyance and expense; hence its form should be adapted 
to the shape of the flame; currents of cool air or water-spray striking 
hot chimneys are very apt to break them. Many of those sold in the 
market are of inferior quality. It is important to select those of good 
quality and suitable shapes. 

Those made of the best quality of flint glass, and annealed by im¬ 
mersion in a hot oil bath, which cost from 50 to 75 per cent, more than 
the ordinary quality, but save in loss from breakage about 700 per 
cent., are preferable, and are the most economical. 

Messrs. E. de La Ohapelle & Co., at the La Bastie Glass Works, 
Brooklyn, N. Y., which place members of the Board visited, have made 
the annealed quality mentioned. 

At these works the severe tests of rapidly and unequally heating these 
chimneys, and then sprinkling cold water upon them, as also of driving 
nails with, and striking them upon a wooden bench forcibly, were made, 
which tests they stood remarkably well, seldom breaking, except after 
repeated and persistent attempts. 

This company has supplied in quantity the Light-House Department 
with argand chimneys. 

It is reported that another firm in Newl T ork made an excellent qual¬ 
ity of annealed chimney, but the Board has no detailed information 
thereof. 


The following table shows the relative cost, candle power, and weight 
of the several materials considered by the Board for purposes of illu¬ 
mination, and will serve as a basis for approximately estimating the 
cost of light required:* 


Materials. 


OILS. 

175 to 200 K.. 

175 to 200 K. 

Sperm.. 

Lard. 

CANDLES.* 

Adamantine . 

Paraffine. 

Sperm. 


$0 20 
20 
1 05 


Per lb. 


Candle power per hour. 


Approximate candle power es¬ 
timated for rooms of different 
length, with hourly cost of 
light. 


Bound wick. 

Flat wick. 

O 

o 

o 

05 

© 

75 to 100 feet, 60 
candle power. 

50 to 75 feet, 50 
candle power. 

1 

30 to 50 feet, 40 
candle power. 

20 to 30 feet, 25 
candle power. | 

-2 % 
a| 

^ a 
o § 

^ o 

§ 

© 

* 




Gents. 

Gents. 

Cents. 

Cents. 

Cents. 

Ozs. 

1,317 



.0151 

.0090 

.0075 

\ .0060 

.0037 

8 



”998 

.020 

.012 

.0100 

; . 008 

.0050 

10.6 

733 



.1428 

.0856 

.0714 

.0571' 

.0357 

16 

1,037 



.0571 

. 0342 

. 0285 

.0228 ; 

.0143 

12. 24 

41.7 


.357 

.214 

.178 

.142 

.089 

) Lbs. 

58. 25 


.30 

.18 

. 15 

.12 

.075 

> t2. 38 

49.6 


.50 

.30 

. 25 

.20 

j .125 

> 


* Estimated at one “standard candle ” power. t Considered full weight. 

Samples of the FunCk and Manhattan lamps recommended were especially made for the Board for 
trial, and are not in market. They can be supplied in quantity at about $33 and $18 per dozen re¬ 
spectively. 


* This, with foregoing tables, gives the requisite data for making necessary esti¬ 
mates. * 




























24 


CONCLUSIONS. 

Relying on the facts developed by the investigations made, and tak¬ 
ing into consideration the general experience with illuminating oils, 
the Board concludes that the relatively high cost of animal as com¬ 
pared with mineral oils, and the much higher temperature at which they 
chill and congeal, render them less suitable as an illuminant, and are 
good reasons why mineral oil, which gives better light, should replace ani¬ 
mal oil for lighting public buildings, &c., in the Army. For equally good 
and sufficient reasons, the use of candles for lighting barracks, &c., 
should be discontinued, except to a limited extent for special purposes. 

The authorized allowance of candles is considered totally insufficient 
for the purpose of illumination, and were the allowance sufficiently in¬ 
creased to afford adequate light, the cost and inconvenience as com¬ 
pared with that of kerosene oil would justify their rejection. In fact 
candles, as a source of light, have in these days but a limited applica¬ 
tion, and are generally superseded by oil lamps, giving more light at 
Jess cost. The “candle-holder,” with its reflector, on account of the ob. 
jection stated, is believed to be unsuitable for general use in the Army, 
but may serve as an auxiliary light for special purposes. 

Taking into consideration the quality, quantity, and economy of the 
light it produces, good kerosene oil is unquestionably the best material 
for purposes of general illumination in the Army. It is in use on 
steamships and railroad cars, in the Light-House Department and Navy, 
and generally throughout the whole country even where gas is availa¬ 
ble, and as a source of light has no competitor in the domestic economy 
of the people. That it has not supplanted candles in the Army is no 
doubt partly due to the reluctance with which we set aside any means 
or appliance long in use, but chiefly, it is thought, because of the acci¬ 
dents to life and property which accompanied the introduction of kero¬ 
sene oil and kept pace with the first years of its consumption. The 
progress of science and the demands of the public have so stimulated 
investigation and invention, and pointed out the dangers to be avoided, 
that it would be as absurd to abandon the use of mineral oils at the 
present day, on account of the accidents which sometimes occur by the 
careless use of inferior qualities, as it would be to interdict the use of 
steam, gunpowder, or even gas, because they too contribute to the an¬ 
nual list of casualties when improperly or ignorantly applied. Setting 
aside, then, the danger of accident as an objection less real than imagi¬ 
nary, a due appreciation of the necessity of suitable, economical, and 
brilliant light in the barracks, guard houses, and hospitals of our sol¬ 
diers, demands that something take the place of candles, and it is the 
irresistible conclusion of the Board, based upon a due consideration of 
all the information it has obtained, that mineral oil of suitable quality 
is the only substitute which will satisfactorily answer the purpose. 


25 


Iii discussing this subject, the Board has uot overlooked the import¬ 
ance of good eyesight iu relation to target practice in the service and 
the use of fire-arms generally. No superiority in markmauship can be 
expected unless the vision is preserved, and nothing will do more to 
preserve it than a sufficient supply of good, steady light. When the 
light is insufficient or of poor quality, or both, the muscles of the eye 
are strained to their, utmost to produce a power of accommodation to 
enable one to read, write, or even distinguish objects at but a short 
distance. This strain cannot be kept up for any length of time or fre- 
qently incurred without producing great damage to the vision. The 
muscles refuse to respond to the nervous influence, and we have weak¬ 
ness of vision, double vision, short sight, paralysis of the muscles of the 
eyes, and even total blindness as the resultants—thus destroying the 
usefulness of the soldier and the man. 

There is a constant and increasing demand from the soldiers for more 
and better light than is now furnished, and to meet this demand the 
custom prevails of purchasing oils from the company funds and by in¬ 
dividual contributions. Thus the rations and pay of the men are taxed 
for what it seems to the Board is an absolute necessity which the gen¬ 
erosity of the Government should supply. 

In regard to lamps, burners, chimneys, &c., the Board is of the opinion 
that “constant level” metallic lamps, with the round or flat wick burners, 
are the most suitable for army use, for reasons previously given and 
because they virtually eliminate the danger of accidents. The round- 
wick burner, with an inconsiderable increase in consumption, gives more 
light equally diffused than the flat-wick burner, and is, therefore, prefer¬ 
able for barrack rooms of large size. In rooms of ordinary size the flat 
wick, it is thought, may give satisfactory results, burning somewhat less 
oil. Patterns which can be used either as bracket, table, or pendent 
lamps will, it is believed, meet the wants of the service in all respects. 
The Board is of the opinion that the saving to the Government will in 
a short time more than offset the expense incurred in procuring the lamps 
recommended. The subject of transporting and storing kerosene oil has 
been fully considered by the Board, which has embodied in its report 
the data bearing on this subject. It is the custom of commerce to trans¬ 
port the oil both in cases and barrels, and it is reported that the leakage 
when shipped in barrels is so inconsiderable as to be left out of consid¬ 
eration in the trade. Posts in the immediate vicinity of places where 
the oil is purchased may be supplied either in cases or barrels, while to 
posts remote from main lines of transportation it would be, perhaps, ad¬ 
visable to transport the oil in cases. 

Objections may be made to transporting and storing kerosene oil 
with other articles of the subsistence department, on the ground that it 
may impart a disagreeable odor or flavor to certain stores which easily 
absorb air and moisture. 


26 


This, perhaps, might be the case with light oils or naphtha, but it is 
thought not with the grade of oils recommended. 

In conclusion, the Board makes the following 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

Oils .—That kerosene oil with a flash-point of not less than 135° F.,in 
closed cup, be adopted for purposes of general illumination in the Army. 
That verified samples, purchased for the purpose, be carefully tested, 
pyrometrically and otherwise, by the Government’s special inspector, 
and that it be shipped in barrels or cases, as may be considered most 
convenient and economical to the Government. 

Transportation .—That not more than a three months’ stock of oil be 
shipped at one time to posts which can receive their supplies quarterly 
or oftener, and that, when the cost of transportation justifies it, the 
barrels and cases in which the oil is shipped be returned to the vender 
for refilling. 

Lamps .—That metallic “constant level” lamps of the Funck and 
Manhattan patterns, with round or flat wick burners, arranged so that 
they can be used with reflectors or without, and either as bracket, 
stand, or pendent lamps, be adopted for general use—samples with im¬ 
provements suggested by the Board to be submitted. 

2d. That the Cleveland Non-Explosive Lamp Company’s lamps (sam¬ 
ples submitted) are recommended as second in order, and as good and 
suitable for any use. 

3d. That capillary lamps be used to some extent for convenience. 
That the best quality of ^burners, wicks, and chimneys, of the kinds 
mentioned in this report, be supplied. 

4th. That adjustable nickel-plated 8-inch concave reflectors of 10- 
inch radii be furnished for bracket lamps. 

5tli. That inasmuch as there is a great lack of uniformity in the size 
and finish of company quarters throughout the Army, the Board is not 
able to determine the precise number of lamps per company necessary 
in all cases. For example, more lamps would be necessary in log or 
adobe quarters, in which the rooms are not ceiled, than in rooms of the 
same size properly lathed and plastered ; but the Board recommends, 
as an approximate standard of comparison, that each company be sup¬ 
plied with not less than six lamps, and as many more as may be neces¬ 
sary, according to the size and character of the barracks. 

Lanterns .—That the tubular lanterns, with “A” and U B” burners, re¬ 
ferred to in this report, be adopted for lighting stables, shops, store¬ 
houses, guard-rooms, &c. 

Candles .—That candles be retained for camp and special use, and 
that paraffine candles be added to the supply list. 

Candle-holder .—That the u candle-holder” with its reflector be fur¬ 
nished to a limited extent for special use and trial. 


27 


Department of supply. —That the Subsistence Department furnish the 
oil, lamps, lanterns, &c., requisite for the light recommended. 

Finally, the Board cannot conclude its labors without expressing the 
deep interest it feels in the subject-matter of this report, which it is 
believed intimately concerns the mental, moral, and physical improve¬ 
ment of the enlisted men of the Army; and indulges the hope that the 
foregoing recommendations may receive the favorable consideration of 
the Government. 

The Board having no further business before it, adjourned sine die. 

N. H. DAYIS, 

Inspector-General. 

M. D. L. SIMPSON, 

Assistant Commissary-General of Subsistence. 

JOHN H. JANEWAY, 

Surgeon , U. S. A. 

J. P. SANGER, 

Captain , First Artillery. 

CHABLES BIRD, 

First Lieutenant , Twenty-third Infantry. 


SUPPLEMENT TO REPORT ON LIGHTING COMPANY QUARTERS, 

ETC. 

BY A BOARD OF OFFICERS. 

Governor’s Island. 

Few York Harbor , January 1, 1880. 

Sir : I have the honor to submit this paper as a supplement to the 
u Report on Lighting Company Quarters, &c., by a Board of Officers,” 
dated November 20, 1879, showing photographs of the sample lamps, 
&c. (to be forwarded to Washington), taken by direction of the major- 
general commanding the division, with explanations. 

There is added also some new data giving photometric results ob¬ 
tained with these lamps and the adjustable reflectors referred to in the 
previous report. 

Yery respectfully, 

N. H. DAYIS, 

Inspector- General , President of and for the Board. 

The Adjutant-General, 

Headquarters Military Division of the Atlantic , 

Governor’s Island , New York Harbor. 


c 



28 


E X IP T. A 1ST AT IONS. 

Plate 1. 

Funck’s constant level lamp, Army pattern (circular wick). / 

Plate 2. 

(Showing parts of the Funck lamp, Army pattern.) 

Figs. 1,2.—Links to adjust reflector. 

Fig. 3.—Shade holder. 

4. —Lamp fount (inverted). 

5. —Body of lamp. 

6. —Wick-lioider, with wick. 

7. —Wick-holder, with spring prongs. 

8. —Chimney gallery, with slotted tube. 

9. —Perforated air cone. 

10. —Drip cup. 

11. —Lamp-shade. 

12. —Lamp-chimney. 

13. —Reflector, back view. 

Plate 3. 

Fuuck’s Capillary lamp (circular wick). 

Fig. 1.—Wick-holder, with spring prongs. 

2. —Wick-holder and wick (flannel attached). 

3. —Lamp, complete. 

Note. —Burners in the constant level and capillary lamps the same. 

Plate 4. 

Trent’s Automatic constant level lamp, Army Pattern, with Manhattan Burner (flat 

wick). 

Fig. 1.—Base-plate of burner, and wick. 

2. —Inner cone. 

3. —Outer cone. 

4. —Lamp, complete. 

5, 6.—Links to adjust reflector. 

Plate 5. 

Walton’s Patent Reflector Candlestick, complete and in parts. 

Fig. 1.—Candle tube. 

2. —Base-plate. 

3. —Parabolic reflector, without chimney. 

4. —Socket joint of candle tube. 

5. —Spiral spring to push up candle. 

6. —Candlestick, complete. 

7. —Parabolic reflector, with chimney and glass front. 

8. —Cap-piece of candle tube. 

Plate G. 

Tubular Lanterns. 

Fig. 1.—Improved Tubular Lantern, complete. 

2. —Wick of Improved Tubular Lantern. 

3. —Side (or bracket) Tubular Lantern, complete. 

4. —Wick of Side Tubular Lantern. 



PLATE 1 


C' 







































PLATE 2. 
























































PLATE 3. 










II 




















' 

■ I 


( 





■■ 




| ■ " • 9 s 





PLATE 4. 







PLATE 













PLATE 6. 


























V ^ (\|9AW. t/ v v 


f 



G0 


$ 





































































































29 

New Data. 


Funck’s constant level lamp, Army pattern, crave with the new 8-inch concave 
spherical rellector of 10-incli radius, adjusted with approximate accuracy for casting 
a beam of light, 360 candles power. 

I The Trent Automatic constant level lamp, Army pattern, gave with like reflector 
and adjustment, 92 candles power. 

Note.—T o obtain the maximum candle power of the lamp, with this reflector its 
center should he accurately adjusted at 4 13-16 inches from the center of the flame, 
horizontally measured. 

Subsequent experiments with this reflector so adjusted, gave the remarkable re¬ 
sults, to wit: 

Funck lamp, 500 candles power. 

Trent lamp, 223 candles power. 


REPORT ON MINERAL OILS AND LAMPS. 

Proceedings of a Board of Officers convened pursuant to the follow¬ 
ing instructions of the Quartermaster-General, United States Army: 

War Department, Quartermaster-General’s Office, 

Washington, D. C., August 12, 1880. 

A Board of Officers, to consist of Lieutenant-Colonels Holabird, Hodges, and Major 
Moore, is constituted, to whom all the papers on this subject are referred, with in¬ 
structions to prepare estimates of the expenditure required by the introduction 
throughout the Army of mineral oil and lamps for illumination of barrack, hospitals, 
and guard-houses, to which the Inspector-General recommends that for the present the 
supply of mineral oils by the United States be limited. 

Schools and chapels, however, should be included in estimate. The estimate should 
provide from Incidental Expenses appropriation for purchase of oil and lamps. 

From Barracks and Quarters for stationary iron tanks for its storage and preserva¬ 
tion. 

Army Transportation for its transportation generally. 

Transportation to be in barrels, which should be returned whenever the cost of 
transportation to the refinery will not exceed the value of the barrel. 

A sufficient quantity of oil to be transported from time to time in metallic cans to 
provide for the storage in officers’ quarters of the oil to be purchased by them from 
time to time. 

As it is evident that the present appropriation will not justify the attempt to at 
once supply this oil to all military posts, it is desired that a list of posts be prepared 
in which it may be introduced on trial. 

Hereafter, if the result is satisfactory, and Congress grants the necessary appropria¬ 
tion, its use can be extended to others. 

The estimate for regular supplies for the next fiscal year should provide for proper 
lighting of barracks and quarters by the Quartermaster’s Department, should the 
Secretary of War determine to transfer this work from the Commissary Department 
to the Quartermaster’s Department. 

The Board met pursuant to the above instructions, August 10, 1880. 
Present, all the members. 

The Board held informal meetings until August 20, when conclusions 



30 


were reached as to the quantity and quality of oil, the number and kind 
of lamps for barracks, guard-houses, chapels, school-houses, &c., at all 
military posts throughout the Army. 

The Board examined the letters and printed data received from the 
headquarters Military Division of the Atlantic, and a report on lighting 
company quarters, by a board of Army officers, convened at Governor’s 
Island, New York Harbor, November 20, 1879. 

The practical tests made by this Board of Officers referred to, with 
the aid of an expert, to examine the various kinds and qualities of oils 
submitted, their flash point, tire test Fahrenheit, average candle power, 
consumption per hour, &c., were so thorough and exhaustive in detail 
that the Board concurs in their recommendations, believing that until 
it is ascertained by actual trial of both lamps and oil at the military 
posts throughout the Army, that no better standard than that deter¬ 
mined by said Board can be suggested. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

The Board is of the opinion that kerosene oil with a flash point of 
not less than 135° Fall., in closed cups, be adopted for the purpose of 
trial at all military posts in the United States. 

Each company to be furnished with six lamps. 

The estimated time for the lamps in barracks to burn is four hours 
per night. 

The quantity of oil to be consumed for each lamp is estimated at 2 
ounces per hour, or 8 ounces per night. 

The six lamps for a company will require 48 ounces of oil per night. 

The average weight of kerosene oil per gallon of 110° to 150° is 6J 
pounds, or 104 ounces, upon which the following estimate is based: 

There are in the Army 430 companies of all arms of the service, and 
170 posts, including arsenals. 

The estimated quantity of oil to be consumed by the 430 companies 
at the given rate is 72,438 gallons, to which the Board deems it ad¬ 
visable to add 20 per cent, for guard-houses, chapels, school-houses, 
and leakage, &c., making the total number of gallons 86,925, which, 
at 20 cents per gallon, will cost $17,385. 

The price per gallon at which the oil is estimated is believed to be 
sufficient to include the cost of cans securely boxed. 

The stationary iron tanks for its storage and preservation with capac¬ 
ity for 1,000 gallons will cost $130 each. 

It is not known to the board whether it is designed by the Quarter¬ 
master-General to furnish tanks for all the posts, or what number of 
posts; therefore no estimate of the total cost is stated. 

The Board convened at Hew York Harbor, referred to in these pro¬ 
ceedings, having examined and experimented with a great variety of 
lamps in order to ascertain those well adapted for Army use, find that 
among the most satisfactory pattern tried, the Funck lamp with seven- 


31 


eighths-incli argand burner, gave greater candle power than any other 
of the same, or one-inch size tried, with au average consumption of 
about If ounces of oil per hour. 

The Board, recognizing the careful and exhaustive trials made by the 
New York Board, recommends the Funck lamp with seven-eigliths-ineh 
argand burner, with suitable reflectors, to be supplied to the military 
posts in the Army. 

The 430 companies furnished with 6 lamps to a company will require 
2,580 lamps. 

The Board recommends that 10 additional lamps be supplied each 
post for guard-house, chapel, &c., making for the 170 posts 1,700 lamps 
to be added to the number 2,580, or a total of 4,280 lamps. 

The cost of each lamp is $2.75, or $33 per dozen. 

At this rate the requisite number of lamps for the purpose stated will 
cost $11,770, to which add the cost of oil, $17,385; it will make a grand 
total of $29,155 for the purchase of oil and lamps for all posts in the 
United States Army. 

There being no other business before the Board, it adjourned sine die. 

S. B. HOLAB1RD, 

Deputy Quartermaster-General, U. 8. A. 

HENRY G. HODGES, 

Deputy Quartermaster - General , U. 8. A. 

JAS. M. MOORE, 

Major and Quartermaster , U. S. A. 


ARMY LAMPS. 

PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF OFFICERS, DRAWINGS, NOTES, ETC. 

Army Building, 

New York , N.' Y., December 7, 1883. 

General: The Board of Officers convened by Par. IY, Special 
Order 127, War Department, Adjutant-General’s Office, June 4, 1883, 
having completed the duties assigned to it, and having forwarded their 
report to you, has this day adjourned sine die. 

The lamps, burners, &c., examined by the Board will be kept by 
Lieutenant Day, recorder of the Board, until instructions as to their 
disposition are received. 

Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

R. JONES, 

Lieut. Col., A. I. G. 
To 

The Adjutant-General, United States Army, 

War Department , Washington , D. G. 



32 


Army Building, 

New York City, December 7, 1883. 

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of the Board 
on Lamps, instituted by Special Orders No. 127, from your office, dated 
June 4, 1883. 

In the same mail and accompanying this I also send a sheet with two 
tables embracing the results of all tests made, also a package of draw¬ 
ings and another containing the descriptions of the lamps tested; in 
all, four packages. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. A. DAY, 

First Lieutenant Fifth Artillery , U. 8. A ., Recorder . 

Adjutant-General, United States Army, 

Washington , D. C. 

[First indorsement.] 

War Department, 
Adjutant-General’s Office, 

Washington , December 11, 1883. 

Respectfully referred to the Quartermaster-General for remark. 

By order of the Secretary of War. 

R. 0. DRUM, 
Adjutant- General . 


New York, N. Y., 

December 7, 1883. 

General: The undersigned, members of a Board of Officers con¬ 
vened by virtue of the following orders, to wit: 


Headquarters of the Army, 

Special Orders ) Adjutant-General’s Office, 

No. 127. > Washington , June 4, 1883. 

[Extract.] 

* * * * * # * 

4. A Board of Officers, to consist of Lieut. Col. Roger Jones, Assistant Inspector- 
General; Maj. David Perry, Sixth Cavalry; Capt. Joshua A. Fessenden, Fifth Artil¬ 
lery ; First Lieut. Selden A. Day, Fifth Artillery, Recorder, is appointed, to meet at 
ttie Army Building, New York City, on the 11th instant, or as soon thereafter as 
practicable, for the purpose of examining and reporting upon the merits of certain 
lamps designed by J. F. Donnell & Co., of New York City, with a view of supplying 
the Army therewith. 

The journey of Lieutenant Day, from his present station to New York City and re¬ 
turn, is necessary for the public service. 

* * * * * * * 

By command of General Sherman. 

R. C. DRUM, 

. , Adjutant-General . 

Official. 

M. BARBER, 
Assistant Adjutant-General. 



33 


respectfully report, that having assembled at an early day as practica¬ 
ble, proceeded at once to examine the lamps referred to, and while en¬ 
gaged in giving them practical tests, by using some of them in their 
own quarters, and causing others to be used by soldiers in barracks at 
Forts Columbus and Hamilton, invited under authority of the Honor¬ 
able Secretary of War, communicated in a letter from your office dated 
July 19, 1883, other manufacturers to submit for trial any lamps they 
might desire to have tested, with a view of supplying them to the 
Army. 

At an early stage of our proceedings it became apparent it would be 
necessary to do much more than merely experiment with the lamps, by 
a simple trial of them in barracks, however protracted the trial might 
be, and accordingly, after a full consideration of the subject, it was 
deemed expedient to determine the candle-power, the oil consumed per 
hour, and the oil consumed per candle per hour of the lamps brought 
before us. 

Having qualified himself for the work in hand, and haviDg constructed 
the scale, apparatus, and other things essential to conducting the ex¬ 
periments which were deemed necessary to a thorough investigation of 
the subject committed to the Board, Lieutenant Day, in our presence, 
made the experiment in every case, with such assistance as the other 
members of the Board could, individually or collectively, give him. 

The results of these numerous tests are embodied in the exhibit or 
table herewith appended. 

The number of burners tested, it will be seen from the table, is fifty- 
four, and in addition one torch for outside illumination. 

These experiments, conducted over a period of three months, have 
been made with extreme care, and, we believe, show very faithfully the 
candle-power, the consumption of oil per hour, and also the consumption 
of oil per hour per candle-power of every burner reported on. 

Recognizing that the value of this table would be greatly enhanced 
by a description of the lamps and burners, so as to convey, if not an 
accurate, at least some general idea of them, a description of them has 
been prepared and is attached as an appendix to this report, immedi- 
diately after the table. 

It is probable that a large majority of the principal burners at pres¬ 
ent in use have been brought before and tested by the Board, although 
there must be many modifications of them of which we have no knowl¬ 
edge. 

It was evident, from the number and variety of burners that were 
presented by inventors or their agents, that great improvements have 
been made during the last few years in the devices for burning kero¬ 
sene oil for illuminating, as well as for other purposes, and it would 
seem that almost every situation and condition of things, where light 
from lamps or torches is needed, had been provided for. 

15181 l o-3 


34 


CONCLUSIONS. 

After careful tests extending, as already stated, over a period of sev¬ 
eral months, and after a full consideration of the wants and special re¬ 
quirements of the service , we have come to the following conclusions : 

BURNERS. 

First. That the burner known as the “ Mitrailleuse burner,” so called 
from its resemblance to a miniature multibarrel machine gun, composed 
of a number of tubes carrying the wicks, is most suitable for Army 
purposes, not only on account of its high record as to candle power, in 
this particular surpassing all others, and economy in consumption of 
oil, but also because of its special adaptability for burning, from an or¬ 
dinary font, the exceptionally heavy and high grade of kerosene oil 
supplied by the Quartermaster’s Department, thus dispensing with the 
necessity of lamps constructed on the constant level principle, which is 
the characteristic of all lamps of the student pattern, as also of the 
lamp now used in the Army, it having been found that the capillarity 
of the wicks was sufficiently strong to draw this heavy oil high enough 
above its natural level to empty an ordinary lamp font. 

Of these u Mitrailleuse burners ” three sizes were submitted and 
tested, one with ten wicks, a second with twelve wicks, and a third 
with sixteen wicks. 

The ten-wick burner is 1J inches in diameter, and, being adapted to 
any font having a common or B collar, is recommended for use where 
these fonts and fixtures are already on hand. 

The second or twelve-wick burner, however, on account of its 
greater light giving power and economy, is the one we recommend for 
adoption and use in barracks, in all cases where an ordinary font with 
the B collar is not already provided. 

The largest size, or sixteen-wick burner, gives, as will be seen from 
the table, light equal to thirty-two candles, and where such a strong, 
brilliant light is needed it must commend itself to favor, but, for 
soldier’s barracks, it is not, in our judgment, as desirable as the twelve- 
wick burner. 

Two forms of the “ Mitrailleuse burner” were submitted to the Board, 
differing but slightly in their construction, the first in order in the table, 
having the ratchet for raising and lowering the carriage containing the 
tubes and wicks passing through its center; the other with the ratchet 
on the side. 

The latter, known as the Donnell pattern, also differs from the center 
ratchet pattern in having a stop between two of the tubes, thus pre¬ 
venting the inner half tubes with beaks for holding the wicks from be¬ 
ing carried so high as to expose them to the action of, and consequent 
danger of injury by, the flame. 

In the Donnell pattern the wick tubes pass through a plate at the 
top, while in the center-ratchet pattern this plate embraces only the 
outer half of their circumferences. 


35 


CHIMNEY. 

The chimney required for these burners is of a simple, durable form, 
as shown in the margin, and when properly tempered and 
used with care will not readily break under the usual va¬ 
riations of temperature to which it is of necessity sub¬ 
jected. 

Our supplementary tests show that for an equal quantity 
of oil consumed there is no appreciable difference in the 
light-giving power of these two burners. 

These burners, it is thought, are at present imported; 
the center-ratchet pattern having been submitted by A. H. 

Hogg, of No. 11 Murray street, and the side-rachet pattern 
by J. F. Donnell & Co., No. 822 Broadway, both of this city. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

It is claimed for the latter that it embraces all the latest 
improvements, and as it will probably be found best suited 
for Army purposes, its adoption is recommended by the Board. 

If, however, from any cause it should be impracticable to 
provide the Army with the Donnell mitrailleuse burner, the 
Board recommends as a second choice the burner known as 
the Oxford dual, No. 50, in the table, manufactured by the 
Plume and Atwood Manufacturing Company, No. 18 Mur¬ 
ray street, New York. 

FIXTURES. 

A great variety of fixtures were examined by the Board—excellent 
forms for ordinary and domestic purposes having been submitted by— 

Messrs. J. F. Donnell & Co. 

The Manhattan Brass Company. 

The Gleason Manufacturing Company and the Ansonia Brass and 
Copper Company, of New York. 

The Cleveland Safety Lamp Company, of Cleveland, Ohio. 

The Bridgeport Brass Company, of Bridgeport, Conn. 

J. Hollings & Co., of Boston, Mass., and others. 

None of theih, however, seemed to fully meet the special requirements 
of the service, and it was therefore thought best to combine certain 
features found in different exhibits and recommend the bracket and 
pendant shown in the accompanying drawings, with specifications for 
their construction, &c. 

PENDANT. 

The pendant to be of one-half inch brass tubing, in harp-form, and to 
hold but one lamp. 

The cup , to hold the font, to be of spun brass with open-work sides, 
coming well up around it, as shown in drawings, with a female screw in 








36 


base, so as to fit on an ordinary gas-fixture, and to be similar to and 
interchangeable with the cup on the bracket. 

BRACKET. 

'The bracket to be of five-eighths-inch brass tubing, with wall plate 
having four screws, as shown in drawing, one of the connecting pin¬ 
ions to be fitted with screw and nut to keep the projection in place when 
struck from below. Cup, font, and burner to be similar to those used 
in pendant, and interchangeable. 

FONT. 

The font to be of heavy glass, of the pattern known as the Gordon 
font, as shown in the drawings, the base of the font to be broad enough 
to permit it being used on a table with safety. 

While the lamps and fixtures recommended for adoption may be used 
with shades, globes, or reflectors, it is not recommended that these 
articles be provided for issue, though it undoubtedly would be a great 
convenience if they should be kept in store for sale. 

Eespectfully submitted. 

E. JONES, 

Lieutenant-Colonel, Acting Inspector-General. 

D. PE KEY, 

Major , Sixth Cavalry % 

J. A. FESSENDEN, 
Captain , Fifth Artillery. 

S. A. DAY, 

First Lieutenant , Fifth Artillery , U. S. A ., Recorder . 

The Adjutant-General, United States Army, 

Washington , F>. C. 


























































• 





































































































































. 








* 












































































Wall piATE )QW lon 





































































. 














































































































































































































































‘ » 



































































































































































Table No. 1 .—Burners tested by Army Board on lamps, 1883 . 


37 


c a 

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38 


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Table No. 2. —Supplementary tests by Army Board on lamps, 1883. 


40 


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41 

DESCRIPTION OF BURNERS TESTED BY ARMY BOARD ON LAMPS, 1883. 

No. 1. 

THE u GOOD NIGHT.” 

This burner and lamp is somewhat in the form of a candlestick and 
candle. It takes a three-eighths inch flat wick. 

The chimney-holder, or crown and cone, are united and slip over the 
tube. It takes a small round chimney of the common Sun pattern, 
special size, and is intended to take the place of a candle for ordinary 
domestic purposes, and is a very handy little lamp, giving more light 
than a candle at much less expense, and will burn all night with very 
small expenditure of oil. 

Nos. 2, 5, and 15. 

THE “ EUREKA.” 

There were three sizes of this burner submitted, Nos. 0, 1 and 2; No. 
0 taking half inch flat wick ; No. 1 taking five-eighths inch flat wick, 
and No. 2 taking 1 inch flat wick. 

No. 0 the flame is 1 inch above the collar of the font; No. 1, 1£ inch, 
and No. 2, 1J inches above the collar. It has a safety tube through 
which the vapor generated in the font is led to the flame alongside of 
the wick. 

The cone is hinged to the diaphragm, and the chimney held in place 
by four stanchions of perforated spring brass grasping it on the outside. 
They take the ordinary Sun chimney, or cylindrical base chimney cor¬ 
responding in number to the respective sizes. 

Nos. 3, 9, and 20. 

THE SUN. 

This burner is made in three sizes, Nos. 0,1, and 2, for half, flve-eigliths 
and 1 inch flat wicks, and are perhaps the best known in the market, 
being made in great quantities for export as well as domestic purposes. 

The distinctive feature of this burner is that the cone is permanently 
attached to the diaphragm or base by four stanchions, and is spread 
out so as to fill and sustain the chimney from the inside. The base, or 
outer edge, of the cone being slit so as to form a spring bearing on the 
inside of the chimney about an inch above its base. 

Nos. 4, 8, and 19. 

THE LINCOLN. 

This burner differs but slightly from the Eureka. The cone slot 
through which the flame passes being somewhat more elliptical in form 
than that of the Eureka. The diaphragm is attached to the base by a 


42 


greater number of points than the Eureka, but practically it is the 
same burner. It takes the Sun chimney corresponding in size to the 
number of the burner—0, 1, and 2. 

Nos. 6, 16. 

THE “ SPRING HINGE.” 

This is made in two sizes, Nos. 1 and 2, and takes what are known as 
Nos. 1 and 2, or A and B lip chimneys. This burner has the chimney 
base and cone in one piece, and is hinged to the base above the dia¬ 
phragm, through which the tube passes. It is also supplied with safety 
tube for escape of vapor. 

The chimney is held in place by two points bent inward, over the lip 
on one side, and a spring piston opposite to these. Another spring se¬ 
cures the cone to the base opposite to the hinge. 

These burners give a good, steady light, even when exposed to draughts, 
or puifs of air, probably due to the shielding of the tube beneath the 
diaphragm, as well as the small and numerous perforations in the dia- 
I>hragm itself. 

Nos. 7, 18. 

THE STANDARD. 

These are made in two sizes, Nos. 1 and 2; taking the corresponding 
Sun chimneys. 

It differs but slightly from the Eureka burner already described made 
by the same firm. It, however, has no safety tube, and the stanchions 
are made of spring brass wire. 


No. 10. 

THE “ SAFETY.” 

This burner requires no chimney, and as submitted was attached to a 
“ packed” hand lamp. 

Though, perhaps, useful in certain situations, is hardly adapted to 
burning kerosene oil with economy. 

No. 11. 

u CLEVELAND SAFETY.” 

This is a burner and lamp combiued, and being inseparable. 

The distinctive feature of which consists of a well and reservoir for 
the oil, the wick dipping into the former and the oil escaping from the 
reservoir, when in an upright position only. 

This lamp is especially adapted for burning light volatile oils, and 
gives a good light. 


43 

No. 12. 


SILBER LIGHT. 

This burner is made upon the principle of supplying hot air to the 
flame by means of a jacket or shield surrounding the tube and convey¬ 
ing the heat downward, and through which the air passes upward, the 
shield being heated by near contact with the flame. 

This requires no chimney, but like all of its kind tested by the Board 
is found to be somewhat wasteful in its consumption of oil, when com¬ 
pared with the amount of light produced. 

One feature of the construction of this burner is a device for spread¬ 
ing the flame and exposing additional surface to the action of the 
heated air. 

The burner is adapted for any lamp or font with common B (1J inch) 
collar. 

No. 13. 

THE ALADDIN OR “LOCOMOTIVE HAND-LAMP.” 

This burner requires no chimney and resembles somewhat the preced¬ 
ing (Silber-light) in construction and principle, the differences being 
that the shield or heating jacket in this case is made of two pieces, a 
top and bottom, riveted together ; the top being of brass and the lower 
of perforated tin. 

It has also side openings in the cone, through which the flame passes 
when exposed to a downward or side draft, instead of being extin¬ 
guished, and which, with other features, makes it a very fair burner 
for special purposes when used on a small hand-lamp or stand. 

It is principally used in inspecting machinery where an ordinary lamp 
with chimney could not be handled. 

No. 14. 

THE LEADER. 

This is a flat wick burner made in three sizes; the slip pattern being 
in two parts. 

The base, circular, through and to which the wick tube is attached, 
while the slip or top is rectangular and uses a special chimney very 
much flattened. 

No. 1 uses a 1-inch flat wick; No. 2 uses a 1J inch flat wick; and No. 
3, or Mammoth, a 2-inch wick. 

They are used for all purposes, either as hand, stand, pendant or 
bracket lamps, and a very good form is one with a barrel font, mounted 
upon a base with rod somewhat in the manner of a study lamp. 


44 


No. 17. 

THE PARLOR, NO. 2. 

This is a plain burner for a B (1^ inch) collar and B Sun chimney, 
which is held in place by four cut spring brass stanchions. The cone 
is hinged to the diaphragm, which in turn is riveted to the base. It 
takes a 1-inch flat wick, and for ordinary purposes is a good and effective 
burner. 

No. 18. 

THE EXCELSIOR, NO. 2. 

This burner has a movable cone, the vest being solid, and is intended 
for use with an illuminator instead of chimney; the base of the illumin¬ 
ator being the same as a No. 2 or B lip chimney, and either can be used. 

It takes a 1-inch flat wick and gives a good light. 

No. 22. 


THE PERFECTION, NO. 2. 

This burner is of the standard pattern, having a hinged cone, a u safety 
tube,” and four cut brass spring stanchions for holding the chimney in 
place, it taking a No. 2 Sun chimney. 

No. 32. 

THE PRIZE. 

No. 33. 

THE OPPOSITION. 

No. 34. 

THE STAR. 

These are practically the same, taking the same wick and chimney, 
and giving about the same light for an equal quantity of oil, and dif¬ 
fering only in a few details of construction. 

These are all good economical burners, as will be Seen by reference to 
the table, and are sold in great" numbers at a very moderate price. 

No. 23. 

THE HITCHCOCK. 

This burner is of the ordinary type, 1 inch flat wick, with cone over 
the tube and slot through which the air passes with the flame, and by 
which means the oxygen is supplied feeding the combustion. 

The blast or excess of air in this case, however, is supplied by me- 


45 


chanical means, a fan being run by the unwinding of a coil-spring placed 
in the base, or stand. This, of course, like a clock, requires to be wound 
up periodically, and will run from 12 to 14 hours. 

The flame is entirely exposed, and is more like a good quality of gas 
than any other submitted to the Board. It may be shaded or inclosed 
in a globe, if desired. The objections to this lamp are: First. The orig¬ 
inal cost consequent upon the necessity for the machinery, and its lia¬ 
bility to get out of order when carelessly handled or trimmed. It gives 
a strong, steady light, and is economical in the consumption of oil, as 
will be seen by reference to the table. 

Nos. 24 and 25. 

THE UNIQUE. 

This burner is made for different thicknesses of flat wicks, adapting 
it for use either with heavy or light oils. 

No. 1, being intended for ordinary light oils, has a common wick 1 
inch wide; in No. 2 the wick is of the same width but double thickness, 
the difference in the candle power and consumption of oil being very 
slight. This burner differs from all others on the same general plan in 
having a movable wick tube—that is, one capable of being depressed or 
drawn down beneath the diaphragm for the purpose of lighting and 
extinguishing without moving the chimney or globe, and is very con¬ 
venient on that account. The tube is returned to and held in place by 
means of a coiled brass-wire spring. 

This burner takes the No. 2 or B lip chimney and is very convenient 
for use with the illuminator, having the same lip, and in all pendant 
fixtures. 

No. 26. 


THE SUN-HINGE. 

This burner has the cone and chimney seat, or base, combined, and is 
hinged to the base and diaphragm and base, and much resembles the 
spring hinge already described. It takes the lip chimney correspond¬ 
ing in size. 

* No. 27. 


the pinafore A and B. 

These are made in different sizes, and, like the Leader, require special 
chimneys. 

They are made upon the same principle as the Leaders, differing only 
in minor particulars. They give a good light and are economical in 
the consumption of oil. 

No. 28. 

THE DRUMMOND. 

This burner takes a 1 -inch flat wick and special chimney with round 
base held in place by catch and spring. It has a double diaphragm, 


46 


the lower one being flat and the upper decidedly convex, surrounding 
the tube and coming well up into the cone. The cone is sprung into 
and kept in place between catches. 

The base screws into a common B collar, or can be fastened to the 
cap of a font by a partial turn or lantern catch. 

It has a feeder wick, and the specimens furnished were specially 
adapted for use in a street lantern or post light. 

They give good results and are excellent burners, especially suited 
for use out of doors. 

No. 29. 


THE HOLLINGS (NEW). 

This burner resembles the Sun-hinge in many respects, differing prin¬ 
cipally in having a wick made up of three thicknesses of material 
folded. 

No. 30. 


THE M’LEWEE. 

This lamp is patterned after and resembles in every respect the Hitch¬ 
cock mechanical blast, except that the fan works are omitted from the 
base. It requires no chimney, but instead is substituted a globe of glass 
which answers every purpose of protecting the flame and supplying the 
draft. It has the 1-inch flat wick, gives a good light, and is economical 
in the consumption of oil. 

No. 31. 


THE SUNLIGHT-SLIP. 

This burner takes the 1 -inch flat wick and B or No. 2 lip chimney. 
It resembles the Sun-hinge, but the chimney base and cone slip over the 
tube and diaphragm, which are fastened together, the tube supporting 
the diaphragm. 

No. 38. 


THE CHALLENGE—ARGAND. 

This was the smallest argand burner tested by the Board. It has a 
diameter of three-fourths of an inch and uses a flat wick in circle with 
double ratchet bearings. It takes the smallest or No. 2 argand chim¬ 
ney, and like all of its kind is economical in the consumption of oil when 
properly trimmed, but the difficulty of turning up all sides of the wick 
evenly, when not woven in cylinder, renders them generally undesira¬ 
ble. 

No. 39. 

THE PERFECTION—STUDENT LAMP. 

This is the burner now largely in use in the Army for lighting bar^ 
racks, &c. It is a seven-eightlis-inck diameter argand of the well-known 


47 


student or constant-level type. It has good candle power and is eco¬ 
nomical in the consumption of oil, as will be seen by reference to the 
table. 

No. 40. 

THE CLEVELAND STUDY LAMP. 

This is the well-known constant-level argand burner of 1 inch diame¬ 
ter cylindrical wick. It gives a strong, steady light, and is economical 
in the consumption of oil. 

Excellent forms of this lamp were submitted, such as pendent, bracket, 
hand, and table lamps, some features of which have been embodied in 
the recommendations of the Board for the fixtures to be used in the 
Army. 

No. 41. 

THE KENT (ARGrAND.) 

This burner takes a 3-inch flat wick, as argand. It has a double 
ratchet, geared together, and operated by one thumb-piece. The inner 
tube takes its air through a side opening above the base, making a per¬ 
forated wall surrounding the ratchets and tube. The inner tube con¬ 
tains a star-shaped lining at its top, extending about five-eighths of an 
inch down, intended for the purpose of steadying, dividing, and heat¬ 
ing the inside draft to the flame. This burner takes a No. 1 argand or 
student lamp chimney, and gives a good light, and is economical in the 
consumption of oil, but, like all others having a divided or flat wick, is 
apt to turn up unevenly, and is difficult to wick or keep in order. 

No. 42. 

THE HARVARD. 

This burner takes a 3-inch flat wick, like the Kent, in a 1-inch round 
tube, and is an argand. It has an inner tube which gets its air through 
a side opening above the base and inside of a perforated wall or shield 
surrounding the ratchets and wick-tubes. It has a cone surrounding 
the tube and a diaphragm, which is attached to the latter. The inner 
tube contains a cup at its bottom, which, being lifted out by means of 
a wire handle extending to the top of the tube, affords a ready means 
of cleaning it out. 

This is a heavy burner of good power, but, on account of the mass 
of metal surrounding the wick, the flame is apt to increase after warm¬ 
ing up, and requires careful attention when first lighted. 

No. 43. 

THE MANHATTAN (NEW). 

This is a burner somewhat resembling the German student argand. 
It has a cylindrical wick 1£ inches in diameter, which is raised and low- 


48 


ered in the usual way by revolving the wick-holder around an inner 
tube, the stud on the wick-holder working in a screw corrugation in 
the outer tube. The wick-sheath is perforated by a series of three cir¬ 
cles of small holes to admit the oil to the wick, besides having a longi¬ 
tudinal slot through which the stud passes to the screw corrugation, 
the wick-holder being revolved by turning the wick-sheath. The sheath 
is attached at its top to an outer covering or cone, the outer wick-tube 
with corrugation screw coming up between the cone and wick-sheath 
nearly to the top. The cone descending to the level of the base is 
spread cut horizontally, forming a diaphragm having three concentric 
rows of holes increasing in size toward the periphery. The outer circle 
of these holes serves as the gear in which a pinion works, and by which 
motion is communicated to the cone and wick-sheath by means of a key, 
and which serves to raise and lower the wick regulating the flame. 
The inner tube (to which oil is not admitted) is secured at the bottom, 
and the outer tube to both the bottom and sides near the top of a well 
3£ inches deep and If inches in diameter. This well has two perfora¬ 
tions in its bottom to admit oil to the wick, and an air-hole near the 
top outside, and is attached to the base, which in turn screws into a 
metal cylindrical font 4 inches deep and 3f inches in diameter, intended 
for use in a vase or other receptacle. 

The inner wick-tube holds a small button or spreader for the flame, 
which can be taken out when desired. 

The chimney-holder is attached to a perforated cap which covers the 
revolving diaphragm, and on which a globe seat rests. The burner 
takes a large chimney of the student-lamp pattern and gives a strong, 
steady light of good quality, but in its present form was found un¬ 
suited for burning the heavy oil with which the tests were made, fail¬ 
ing to empty the font before becoming extinguished. 

^o. 44. 

MANHATTAN MAMMOTH. 

This is in all essentials a large student lamp. It has a wick'lf inches 
in diameter, and the flame is regulated by revolving the cone and wick- 
sheath. The wick-holder stud running in a screw corrugation in the 
outer tube. It is attached permanently to a constant level font, which 
is intended to either set on a table or may be hung on the wall as a 
bracket. The font has a spring safety automatic closer. It takes a 
large student-lamp chimney and has a button flame-spreader perma¬ 
nently attached to the inner wick-tube. 

Ko. 45. 

THE IMPERIAL OR KASMOS VULKAN. 

This burner takes a 4-inch flat wick in cylinder as an argand, the 
diameter being If inches. The inner wick-tube has a lining extending 


49 


about half way from the top to the bottom, concentric with which is a 
small tube for holding* the button or flame-spreader. 

The inner and outer wick-tubes are joined around a side opening, 
making a closed casing for the wick, which unites to complete the circle 
after passing this opening. 

The cone, chimney-seat, and shield are all united and screw into the 
outer tube above the key, which, by double gearing; raises and lowers 
the wick regulating the flame. 

The most distinctive feature of this burner is the chimney. This has 
a base, contraction, and shaft of the usual student-lamp form, except 
that starting just above the contraction the shaft is blown out into the 
form of a globe. The button, supported on a spindle passing through 
the contraction in the chimney, spreads the flame in the globe and pro¬ 
duces a very intense and effective light. The burner is used in an or¬ 
dinary font, but requires a collar two inches in diameter. 

No. 46. 

THE SCHNEIDER. 

This burner resembles the Imperial (last described) in all essential 
particulars. It is mounted as a student-lamp or constant-level font, 
and the wick, being cylindrical, is raised and lowered by revolving the 
tube, as in all lamps of this class. 

The outer casing of the font has a ledge or false bottom through 
which the nozzle of the feeder passes, closed, but on being turned 
around is opened and secured in place; a reverse motion necessarily 
closes the feeder before it can be taken out. It takes the chimney and 
gives nearly the same light as the Imperial, last described. 

No. 47. 

THE MANHATTAN DUPLEX. 

This is a plain double or u duplex” burner, having two 1-inch flat 
wicks in tubes one-half inch apart. Each wick has a ratchet. The air 
passes in through the shield or surrounding case above the base and 
upward through a perforated diaphragm to all sides of the two wicks 
alike. 

The cone has two openings corresponding to the wicks, between 
which is a line of depression. The chimney is held in place by a crown 
attached to the base of the cone, which fits over the top of the shield, a 
corrugation in the one and slot in the other establishing the correct 
lateral adjustment of the parts. Beneath the base a third wick is 
doubled through a staple and serves as a feeder to the movable wicks. 

This burner takes the common duplex chimney, screws into a B (1J 
inch) collar, and can be used on an ordinary font, and gives a good 
light. 


15181 L o-4 


50 


No. 48. 

HINKS DUPLEX. 

This burner is like the last described, except that it has an extin¬ 
guisher which, by movement of a lever, slides up the tubes and covers 
the exposed part of the wick at the top, and extinguishes the flames 
without turning down. It has no third wick or feeder, and as the 
length of the tubes is somewhat greater than in the Manhattan it is not 
well adapted for burning heavy oils, going out before emptying an or¬ 
dinary font. 

No. 49. 

MULTUM IN UNO. 

This burner differs from the Manhattan duplex, previously described, 
in being fitted with an extinguisher and the manner of attaching the 
feeder wick. 

It also has an opening with cover, through the diaphragm and base, 
at the side of one of the tubes, through which the font can be filled. 
The wicks are wider, and it requires a larger collar in the font. It is 
used in a brass font with bottom rim fitting into a cup which screws on 
to an ordinary bracket or gas fixture. It has a globe mat surrounding 
the crown, and takes the common duplex chimney, giving a good light. 

No. 50. 

OXFORD DUAL. 

This burner differs from the plaiu duplex in having but one opening 
through the cone , covering the tubes, by which means the flames from 
the two wicks are united above the cone. It takes the common duplex 
chimney, gives a good light, and can be used on an ordinary lamp or 
font having a B, or lj-inch collar. 

No. 51. 

THE MITRAILLEUSE. 

This burner consists of ten brass tubes, three-sixteenths inch in diam¬ 
eter, and 3 inches long, arranged in a circle. They are secured in place 
at the bottom by passing through base plates, and at the top by a band 
one-half inch wide, and forming a plate even with their tops, and ex¬ 
tending around the outer half of their circumferences. In the center 
of this circle of tubes is a single tube of the same size and length attached 
only at the bottom. Through this center tube runs a ratchet post, 
attached to a carriage beneath, by means of which the wicks contained 
in the outer tubes are raised and lowered. 

Over the center tube another tube one-half inch longer telescopes 


51 


down to its attachment at the upper base plate. On the top surround¬ 
ing this tube is a spreading disk or button, and another disk surrounds 
it one-half inch from the bottom. 

The ratchet pinion is placed between the upper and lower base plates, 
which are seven-eighths inch apart, and the key passes through between 
two of the tubes, which are slightly separated at their base to admit of 
it, they all being about one-sixteenth of an inch apart at their tops. A 
second series of tubes attached to a disk at the bottom and free at their 
upper ends telescope upward into the first series. These carry the wicks, 
and the whole is raised and lowered with the ratchet post, which is 
attached to the center of the bottom plate. 

The lower tubes from one-half inch above the plate are cut away on 
the outside exposing the wicks, leaving them in fact but half-tubes; the 
upper ends of these terminate in points, or beaks, which being turned 
inward when drawn down into the upper tubes with the wick are 
pressed into the same, by which means the wicks are raised and low¬ 
ered inside of the stationary or upper tubes, and the flame is thus reg¬ 
ulated. A perforated shield and chimney-crown, with a lining or cone 
also perforated, fit around the upper tubes to within one-eighth inch of 
their tops, the draft circulating freely both inside and outside of the 
circle of wick tubes above the base, while the vapor generated in the 
font finds vent through the center tube to the inside of the Hame. 

This burner goes into an ordinary B (1-J inch) collar and will draw 
heavy oil from an ordinary font. It takes a plain chimney, simi¬ 
lar to the Mohring, which consists of two cylinders united by a cone 
without contraction, and gives a strong, steady light with small pro¬ 
portionate consumption of oil. 

No. 52. 


THE MITRAILLEUSE. 

This is exactly like the preceding, except in size, having twelve wicks, 
and being larger requires a inch collar to the font. It takes the 
same chimney and gives a proportionately greater amount of light. 

No. 53. 

THE MITRAILLEUSE. 

This differs from the two preceding only in details of construction, 
and is the same size as No. 52. It has twelve tubes in the circle, and 
the center tube instead of being open is closed by the support holding 
the spreading button. The tubes at their top, instead of an outer band 
and half-plate through which they pass leaving their inner surfaces 
uncovered, as in the first described, abut beneath a full plate which 
extends downward both on the outside and inside, forming a band one- 
half inch wide on the outside and one-sixteenth inch inside. 


52 


It differs also in having the ratchet-post between two of the outer 
tubes, and consequently the pinion and key at one side. It has also a 
hinged stop at one side to prevent the carriage and inner or haff-tubes 
with wicks being turned up so high as to expose the beaks to injury by 
the flame. This stop being turned outward permits the carriage to be 
run up to the full height when the wicks are first inserted into the tubes, 
or, when burnt down, a new length can be pulled up without breaking 
off* the beaks, and which should be carefully guarded against. 

No. 54. 

THE MITRAILLEUSE. 

This burner is like the last described in all essential particulars, with 
slightly different construction, but larger. It has sixteen wicks and 
requires a font with lj-inch collar. It gives a very strong light; in 
fact, a more powerful light in proportion to the number of wicks than 
any other Mitrailleuse burner tested by the Board. 

No. 55. 

THE YORK TORCH. 

This is a device for burning kerosene oil without wick or chimney, 
and is intended for use in exposed situations, such as field works, camps, 
landings, foundries, &c. It consists of a reservoir about 3 feet above 
the burner, to which the oil is fed by gravity through a tube, and is 
atomized by means of a small tubular jet in a heated retort. The vapor 
escapes through perforations, forming horizontal jets in a circle, which, 
being ignited, gives a strong light. 

The pressure and supply of oil is regulated by two valves, and it is 
started by permitting a small quantity to overflow into a cup packed 
with asbestos beneath the retort, which, being lighted, heats the retort 
sufficiently to vaporize the already atomized oil admitted, which at once 
becomes ignited from the remnant of the oil burning in the cup beneath. 

E. JONES, 

Lieutenant- Colonel , Acting Inspector-General. 

D. PEEEY, 

Major , Sixth Cavalry. 

J. A. FESSENDEN, 
Captain , Fifth Artillery. 

S. A. DAY, 

First Lieutenant , Fifth Artillery , U. S. A., Recorder. 


53 


War Department, 
Quartermaster-General’s Office, 

December 14, 1883. 

General : I have the honor to submit herewith papers in report of 
Board on Lamps, convened by General Orders No. 127, Adjutant-Gen¬ 
eral’s Office, current series, with request that you will please favor this 
office with an expression of your opinion concerning the merits of the 
lamp recommended by the new Board, as compared with the Army 
lamp now in use. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. B. HOLABIRD, 
Quartermaster-General, TJ. 8. A. 

Brig. Gen. M. 0. Meigs, U. S. A. (retired), 

No. 1239 Vermont Avenue N. W ., Washington , D. C. 


Washington, D. C., December 15, 1883. 

Dear General : I have received the papers and report of a Board 
on Army Lamps. 

I will prepare and send you some notes. 

In the mean time, allow me to suggest that the photometric power of 
the lamp recommended by the Board be tested when the oil is nearly 
exhausted. Its value or candle light is not that determined when the 
bowl is full of oil, but varies, I judge, and its economy of oil will de¬ 
pend upon the mean candle-power. 

I found, when I had to study this matter, that with the oil 2 inches 
below the top of wick-holder the light of the regulation Army lamp was 
17.17 candles; when 4° below, only 8.92 candles. 

In the new lamp I think that the oil, towards the end of the evening, 
will be 6 inches below the top of wick-tube, i. e ., below flame. This does 
not appear to have been considered by the Board. 

M. 0. MEIGS. 

General Holabird. 


Mem .—The test measurement of light for the Board’s lamp should be 
made by an expert. There is one with full photometric equipment at 
the office of the United States inspector of gas, in this city. He meas¬ 
ures the value of the city gas every day. The measures should be taken 
with lamp full and one-half full and nearly empty, noting differences of 
level of oil and bottom of flame on each test. If you have two lamps 
please send me one to examine, or one after measurement made. 

NOTES ON ARMY LAMPS. 

To the subject of mineral oil lamps for use of the Army I gave long 
and careful attention and study. 

The subject had been considered by a Board of Officers sitting at 




54 


Governor’s Island, New York. They liad recommended certain patterns 
of lamps. None of the lamps recommended by that Board, and none of 
those known to me as in common domestic use, appeared to fulfill all 
the conditions required for a lamp for use in barracks by soldiers. 

I was therefore led to attempt to devise a form and construction 
which would meet the proper conditions as nearly as possible after this 
careful study. I think that when the danger caused by breaking or 
overturning is so great as in barracks, precaution against breakage and 
upsetting is of first importance. This led me to believe that the lamp 
adopted for general use should beone which should always, when lighted, 
be swung from the roof, or attached at a safe height to the wall of the 
room. Thus placed, only very uncommon carelessness, heedlessness, or 
malice would expose any of them to be broken or upset. The lamps 
adopted were, therefore, hung from the roof; and in order that they 
might be balanced and cast as little shadow as possible, two burners 
were arranged to be led by each font or reservoir of oil in the suspended 
or pendent lamp. They are most useful for lighting up a long or large 
barrack room. For the use of small rooms, such as are occupied by non¬ 
commissioned officers a bracket-lamp was devised, one which could be 
safely and permanently attached to' the wall, above the table on which 
the non-commissioned officer makes out his official reports and returns. 

Long experience has convinced the civilized world that the most 
steady, agreeable, and, on the whole, best and cheapest light is obtained 
by use of the argand burner invented in 1782, by Argand, a Swiss 
chemist, residing in London. Its invention or rather its perfection was, 
it is said, the result of a happy accident. He had devised, thought and 
reasoned out the cylindric wick, supplied with air both on the exterior 
and interior, but it smoked, and f the flame was lurid and dull. Disap¬ 
pointed and vexed, he sat in a brown study, when his servant or aid 
without any distinct purpose, placed over the flame a section of a glass 
tube. The flame sprang up into steady brilliancy, and the argand flame 
burner and chimney which have blessed many millions of houses for 
ninety-nine years, was complete. It is of universal use wherever econ¬ 
omy of oil is not of greater importance than brilliancy of illumination. 

The standard light now in all photometric establishments for the de¬ 
termination of the value of all methods of illumination, is a standard 
argand gas-burner, with a certain number of holes of fixed diameter, 
arranged in a hollow cylinder of fixed diameter, and with a glass chim¬ 
ney of fixed measured diameter and length. 

If I do not greatly err, our Light-House Board and the light house 
authorities in all civilized countries use argand burners in the sea-coast 
light houses. For carrying about, for stables, ships, mines, and other 
places, lanterns whose portability is an object, and in the houses of the 
poor where economy in cost of the lamp and in use of oil are also essen¬ 
tial, a great variety of lamps and lanterns have been devised, and the 
use of lamps is so large, and the capital devoted to their supply and 


55 


manufacture is so great, tliat ingenious inventors are constantly bring¬ 
ing out and endeavoring to introduce new forms of lamps and of burners. 
None have ever in public approval been able to displace the argand 
burner. It may be made large or small. The size of burner adopted 
for the Army lamp is believed to be well suited for the purpose. It 
gives, as appears from the report of this Board in the supplemental trials, 
the light of 10.83 to 17.77 candles. The standard gas argand burner is 
16-candle power when used with 16-candle gas. 

That this is a good standard, appears from the practice of the electric 
light companies who, while able to furnish a light of 1,000 to 100,000 
candle power, all recommend for use in rooms of ordinary habitable 
size the 16-candle electric incandescent lamp. I did not ignore the 
ratchet method of raising and lowering the wick. I had such burners 
before me under trial. I preferred the more common arrangement of a 
wick raised by a screw, because I found common practice preferred it. 

I have been familiar with the ratchet in argand lamps, using whale oil, 
in my home when a boy, sixty years since. I think the screw better, 
but any of the common methods of adjusting the wick may be used in 
the Army lamp. If this supply is again advertised for contract, and 
another bids lower than the last contractor, he should be allowed to use 
any other argand burner than the one whose patent is owned by the 
company w hich happened when the Army was first supplied with mine¬ 
ral-oil lamps under my supervision as Quartermaster-General, to be the 
lowest bidders. An argand burner I think decidedly preferable to all 
others, and a J-inch burner the most suitable, but the details of con¬ 
struction of the tube and its elevating apparatus may vary, and are 
not prescribed. For the Mitrailleuse, it appears to be claimed by the 
report, that its capillarity is a special advantage. All wdcks of the 
same quality and texture of cotton have the same capillarity ; light oils 
rise higher than heavy ones. A difficulty with all oil lamps, is that the 
oil ascends by its capillarity and is liable to overflow the tuoe and, filling 
the drip cup, finally overflow that also. This stops the supply of air 
through the interior tube, and causes the flame to close and smoke. The 
remedy is always to turn the wick well down into the wick-tube so that 
its edge may not remain above the top of the tube when the lamp is 
not lighted. Then, if the brass burner tube is kept clean and free 
from crusts or incrustations (which, themselves, being porous, have 
capillary attraction), will prevent this troublesome and dangerous over¬ 
flow. The complexity of twelve or sixteen separate wicks in a lamp 
cannot fail to make it more liable to disarrangement and more trouble¬ 
some to keep in order than the simple woven cylindric cotton wick so 
cheap and so lasting and in such universal use in student’s lamps all 
over Europe and America. A wick in this lamp will last for many 
months. A great difference is made in the light power of the flame by 
the height of the wick and upper end of the burner tube above the level 
of the oil I do not see this noticed by the Board. I had experiments 


56 


made on this subject when studying the question; they are of record 
and can be produced.* To avoid danger of overflow by tilting of the 
lamp, I desired to keep the burner as high as possible above the constant 
level of the oil; experiments were made in which they were tried at dif¬ 
ferent heights, and the result was clearly to show that the nearer the 
oil rose to the level of the burner the higher was the flame without smoke 
and the greater the light produced. The result was a compromise and 
the difference of level was fixed as in the original specifications and draw¬ 
ings of the Army lamp at 2 inches ordinarily. I think 1£ inches is used. 
I sacrificed some light to greater safety. I apprehend that if the Board 
had made photometric tests with the Mitrailleuse burner until the oil 
in the font, or reservoir, was nearly exhausted , they would have ascer¬ 
tained that the light produced, continually diminished until the oil was 
all consumed. The Army lamp, as made according to specifications and 
general orders, will burn for very many hours—sixteen hours—without 
any perceptible diminution of light. I have had them in constant use 
since the Army lamp was first made in my own library and study, read¬ 
ing, or drawing, or writing by them every night. I find that the best light 
is given by it when the flame burns clear and without smoke at an ex¬ 
treme height of 2§ inches. Were the constant level of the oil much lower 
than now with reference to top of wick-tube, a constant flame of 1J 
inches in height would smoke an<j. burn dim and red. 

As light for working purposes, nothing better than that given by the 
Army lamp as now made is to be had. It is steadier and cheaper 
than gas-light. Electric light is not to be thought of in barracks, ex¬ 
cept in a city supplied with the powerful and costly apparatus neces¬ 
sary to produce it on a great scale. As regards heating the oil in the 
lamp, I think the ordinary student-lamp construction defective, yet I 
have never heard of an accident even in these. The oil in the burner 
tube gets heated, which prepares it for rapid distillation and conver¬ 
sion into illuminating gas in the upper end of the wick and is an advan¬ 
tage. The conducting power of the metal of which this tube is made 
conveys the heat down to some inches below the flame. Liquids con¬ 
duct heat so slowly downwards that in a glass vessel a lump of ice a few 
inches below the surface of water contained therein, will remain un¬ 
melted, while a considerable quantity of ether or of light mineral oil is 
burned on the surface of the water. The conduction of heat to the store 
of oil contained in the font from the hot oil in the burner tube, is carried on 
by circulation alone. If the connecting tube is horizontal, orrises from the 
attachment to the burner tube towards the font, as in most student lamps, 
this circulation goes on and tends to heat, perhaps with light oils to a 
dangerous degree, the oil in the font. I therefore made this connecting 
tube longer than usual in students and mineral-oil lamps, and formed 
it with a downward bend or inverted siphon. The oil heated and ex¬ 
panded in the burner tube cannot descend below or through the heav- 

* Copy of reports herewith. 





57 


ier coal-oil in the lower part of this siphon, and thus the dangerous cir¬ 
culation and communication of heat thereby is absolutely prevented 
and the oil in the font is kept cool. 

During some years’ constant use I have never found the oil in the 
font heated much above the temperature of the air in the room where it 
is used. 

Mitrailleuse .—I have never seen this lamp, but if I understand the de¬ 
scription of its several sizes or varieties, all the metallic wick-tubes at 
some time, or whenever the lamp is full of oil, plunge into the oil itself. 

This must be dangerous, for the metallic tubes will conduct heat 
downwards and aid to heat the oil in the bowl, which, in a warm climate 
or hot summer weather, must result in accidents. Moreover, it is stated 
in the description of the Mitrailleuse that the vapor collects in the glass 
font above the oil, which vapor, of course, increases in quantity as the 
surface of the oil descends, and the oil itself gets hotter and escapes 
through the central tube in the middle of the group of twelve wicks 
surrounding it. This is a positive source of inevitable damage and dan¬ 
ger. The time will certainly come when this inflammable vapor will be 
mixed with air in explosive proportions, and the lamp must explode on 
being lighted, exjdosive mixtures of gases escaping in the midst of the 
flames of the surrounding wicks. In the constant level lamp this dan¬ 
ger does not exist. The vacant portion of the font is removed to some 
distance from the flame, and is separated from it by a hydraulic trap or 
seal, so that there can be no communication of flame to the explosive 
mixture which is liable to form in every closed space above a liquid 
containing the very volatile materials which it is so difficult to separate 
entirely and absolutely from the oils distilled from petroleum. The fill¬ 
ing cap and the burners of the Mitrailleuse are attached to a glass font 
at its top in two places. If this is done, as is usual, by plaster of Paris, 
then they will often, as I know by experience, get loose and come oft*. 
This is dangerous. If attached by the better method of the Manhattan 
Company’s patent, of a coarse screw-thread molded on the glass neck and 
pressed or spun in the metal socket or cap, then they will not probably* 
come off unless unscrewed, but they must, in order to be tight, be luted 
with some cement, or packed with leather, rubber, or other elastic col¬ 
lar, all of which are liable to become loose or leaky and dangerous. 
The form of lamp is objectionable. It tempts the soldier to set it on 
the table where it is liable to be upset or broken. If hung in a pend¬ 
ant or bracket it must cast a shadow below it. In the design accom¬ 
panying the report of the Board a translucent glass shade is indicated. 
This or some reflector will be indispensable with this lamp. The para¬ 
bolic or spherical, an adjustable reflector, nickel-plated, recommended 
for use with the regulation Army lamp, will give, over limited space at 
any point within 15 or 20 feet of the lamp, a light for reading or sewing 
equal to that of over 120 candles. It is not essential to lighting of bar- 


58 


racks, but it is useful, aud would be found, I think, generally desirable 
in rooms of studious officers and of those who were disposed to cultivate 
literature. 

The lamps under the contracts made under General Orders adopting 
them were furnished at very low prices. They have, I am advised, 
given great satisfaction to the soldiers. The reflectors cannot be used 
advantageously on a lamp whose body is so large as to obstruct the 
parallel beam of light. It will cast a shadow. The Army lamp, as I 
devised it, has a strong glass bottle for a font, so strong that I have 
never heard of one breaking. If broken, however, a common wine or 
beer bottle can be used in its place until the regular font can be ob¬ 
tained. It has no metallic parts attached to the glass by screws or 
cements or plaster to come off. It is closed tightly by a cork, and when 
taken off and filled, or while filling, it stands on a table or shelf on its 
flat end like any bottle, and can be closed by its cork so as to be 
handled as safely as a wine-bottle. The glass never corrodes or becomes 
leaky, as all metal fonts do in time, and is so strong that it is no more 
liable to break than a champagne bottle. 

*#*###* 

I think I have done a good thing for officers and soldiers, and I hope 
they will not be deprived of it. The only complaint that I have been 
able to hear of is the chimneys breaking. This happens with all bright 
and hot flames of lamps. Perhaps room for improvement may lie in 
the better annealing of the chimney aud in some alterations of its form. 
Various forms are to be found in the market; almost any of them can 
be adapted to the present regulation Army lamp. I took, in the first 
place, the form in most common use. In my own library a chimney of 
the usual form, bought for a few cents at an Avenue store, sometimes 
lasts for months, and then, without apparent cause, breaks. Others 
break when first put to use. 

If the edge of the metallic reflector is allowed to touch a hot chim¬ 
ney it is very apt to crack and ultimately to break. There is room for 
‘study, therefore, in the annealing and in the form and dimensions of 
glass chimneys for this lamp, and, perhaps, for improvement in the re¬ 
flectors by enlarging the chimney-hole, so that under no circumstances 
shall the reflector and the hot glass come in contact. But to the chim¬ 
ney years of study and thousands of dollars have been applied by 
manufacturers in the past ninety-nine years since the argand burner 
was invented. 

The conclusions of the Board are not justified by the record of their 
experiments. They, in fact, as was to be expected, show the greater 
advantages of the argand burner. If a stronger light be needed it will 
be better to use a larger burner. They compare a f-inch argand flame 
with a Mitrailleuse flame of more than 1J inch in diameter. The 10- 
wick burner is stated at 1J inches, and the 12-wick recommended as be- 


ing larger. Tlie following extracts from the general table of experi¬ 
ments I understand to be the results of trials under usual conditions : 


No. 

Burner. 

Diameter. 

Light 
in standard 
candles. 

Oil used 
per hour. 

Oil 

per candle. 

43 

Argand . 

Inches. 

21.73 

Ounces. 

23 

0.1265 

44 

..do. 


21.85 

3& 

0.1510 

39 

Regulation Army lamp. 

16.83 

2 

0.1188 

53 

♦Mitrailleuse, more than. 


22. 00 

2i 7 <j 

0.1227 


* This burner, as oil is exhausted and its level reaches from 3 inches to 6 inches below the flame, must 
give a light continually decreasing, and, finally, not half that reported. 


Note. —Nos. 43, 44, and 39 will give a perfectly uniform light for many hours, and till oil is ex¬ 
hausted. 

It appears that the regulation Army lamp consumes little more than 
half as much oil as No. 53, the one recommended by the Board ; that it 
consumes rather less for each candle-light obtained ; its light is steady 
for hours, and it is safe. It was adopted as a 16-caudle burner for rea¬ 
sons before stated. The Mitrailleuse on its capillary bowl has a reser¬ 
voir always filled with volatile vapor, which, when the lamp is in use, 
is reported as escaping through a central tube. 

The time must come when the half-filled lamp will contain, above the 
surface of oil, an explosive mixture of air and vapor, and then, on ap 
plication of the match to light the lamp, an explosion is to be expected. 

Under ordinary circumstances the use of the regulation lamp is the less 
expensive in consumption of oil for light given, and of oil per hour, in 
the ratio as 2 ounces is to 3J, in fact; and when a body of troops spends 
a Northwestern prairie winter without barracks, and the United States 
rebuilds the burned buildings, no one will think the substitution of the 
Mitrailleuse for the regulation lamp a happy or economical experiment. 
The regulation lamp holds 32 ounces of oil, and actually consumes in 
practice rather less than 2 ounces per hour per burner, so that it will 
furnish a steady light of 17 to 18 candles for 16 hours without refilling. 
Experiments made in 1881, at my instance, while I was engaged in thq, 
study of this question, showed that the quantity of light was greatly 
influenced by the difference of level between flame and oil. At 2 inches 
difference of level between flame and oil the light given by the regula¬ 
tion lamp burner was 17.17 candles, at 3 inches 11.68 ditto, at 4 inches 
8.92, i. e., only half that given at 2 inches. In the Bowl lamp recom¬ 
mended by this Board the difference of level varies as consumption 
goes on from 3 inches to 6 inches below the flame, as shown by the scale 
of the drawing. This has apparently escaped the attention of the Board? 
who seem to have estimated the light with a full lamp and consumption* 
With oil at a changing, say average, level, the ratio of its consumption 
per candle light will therefore be probably different from that stated by 
the Board. Before adopting this lamp, should it seem in any other re¬ 
spects preferable, the light-giving power should be tested at short in- 



















60 


tervals from a full to a nearly empty lamp : the average will give its 
effective light aud use of oil per candle power. 

Waste of oil is caused by siphonage. The great capillary action of 
the wick raises oil to its upper edge, and if this is above the top of the 
wick tube, or even therewith, the oil overflows, keeping the outside of 
the lamp wet, fills the drip cup, and overflows upon the table or floor* 
With the argand burner, kept clean and free from incrustation, this can 
be entirely prevented, and both damage and danger avoided by turning 
the wick down to a sensible distance below the top of the tube when 
extinguishing it, and leaving it so. A wick thus treated will last for a 
year without changing, when used with oil of the purity required by 
the Quartermaster’s Department in its specifications and contracts. 

I have constantly used in my library and study, since they were first 
made, the regulation Army lamp, and my own experience agrees with 
that of the Army. They are satisfactory to those who use them and to 
those who buy the oil they consume. 

The large size of the bowl lamp makes it unfit to use with the para¬ 
bolic reflector, as it cuts off' a great part of the light. This reflector, 
properly adjusted, will throw upon a book at a distance of 10 to 20 
feet a light equal to the power of 150 candles. It is, therefore, very 
desirable for reading and writing. The light given out by the lamp is 
not increased in actual quantity-by the use of a reflector; it is collected 
upon a comparatively small space, and less light goes to the walls and 
roof of the room. For general illumination of a room the reflectors 
should not be put upon the lamps—they are arranged to be removable. 

In the first table of tests, No. 1, where the burners and lamps appear 
to have been observed under ordinary conditions of use—the Mitrail¬ 
leuse, No. 53—12 wicks and side ratchet used 2.7 ounces oil per hour, 
giving light equal to 22 candles, and is reported to have used per caudle 
light 0.1227 ounces oil. The Army lamp used 2 ounces of oil per hour, 
and gave 16.83 candle light, a consumption per candle of 0.1188 ounces 
per hour, which is less than that of the burner recommended. 

In the second table in which experiments appear to have beeu insti¬ 
tuted to compare the burners not under ordinary conditions, but with 
the argand lamp pressed beyond its regular work, it was forced to a 
consumption of 3£ ounces per hour, giving under these conditions, 17.77 
candle light, and using per candle 0.1969 ounces of oil. 

The Mitrailleuse, used as a constant-level student lamp, gave, by this 
table, 23.83 candle light; used 3£ ounces oil, and per candle 0.1469 
ounces. It was burning at disadvantage for addition of 0.8 ounce 
of oil, increased light was 1.83 candles only The former is the fair 
comparison, the Army lamp then working at its usual and constant 
rate, which, in practice, is rather less than two ounces per hour, and 
the Mitrailleuse then being used in the capillary lamp recommended by 
the Board, in which I am persuaded that it will be found to give, as an 
average working light as the oil gets lower in the glass bowl, a good 


61 


deal less light than the Army lamp with J-inch argand wick which, 
moreover, gives a perfectly steady light for 16 hours continuously. 

The Light-House Board uses an argand mineral-oil lamp with three 
concentric wicks, the outer one 2§ inches in diameter. It consumes 15J 
ounces oil per hour; gives light equal to 163 candles, and uses per can¬ 
dle light per hour 0.0958 ounces mineral oil, Light House standard. (See 
report and correspondence with the Manhattan Brass Company upon 
tests of lamps with oils at different levels, and the remarks of their ex¬ 
perts upon capillary action of oils on wicks at different temperatures 
and effects on flame and light, which are herewith.) 

M. C. MEIGS, 

Late Quartermaster- General. 


New York, May 21, 1881. 

Hear Sir : We inclose copy of photometric test made for us, which 
we respectfully submit for what it is worth. 

Of course if left to us we should prefer to make in regular way, being 
all prepared to do it. Such being the case, we do not think we should 
give any other reason for our preference of less oil level than 4 inches. 

Very respectfully, yours, 

Manhattan Brass Company. 

J. H. AY HITE, President. 

General M. C. Meigs. 


New York, May 23,1881. 

Dear Sir : We omitted to say on sending the photometrical results, 
I fear, they were made with the wick of a uniform height of inches 
above the top of burner. This is the usual and proper height for our 
burners for oil levels of from 1^ to 2 inches. 

In making the burner for 3 or 4 inches level it would be necessary to 
raise the chimney to correspond to the increased height of wick. This, 
we think, would give somewhat better results. 

Yery respectfully, yours, 

Manhattan Brass Company. 

J. H. WHITE. 

General M. C. Meigs. 

The following wijl show the photometrical results obtained with your 
argand burner, and as may be expected from any other, subject to the 
same trial with good oil and a soft well-made wick, best adapted for the 
purpose, which was found by actual experiment and usage. 

The oil used in making this experiment was of an excellent quality, 
flash at 140° Fahr. Its capillary power very good. The latter is not 
requisite in the market; therefore the oil may stand all market require¬ 
ments, such as color, specific gravity, flash, and fire tests, yet the capil- 




62 


lary power be defective, and tbe production of light in a lamp having its 
level of oil below the usual height would produce less light. 

Oil level 4 inches equal to 8.92 caudles. 

Oil level 3J inches equal to 10.87 candles. 

Oil level 3 inches equal to 11.68 candles. 

Oil level 2£ inches equal to 12.25 candles. 

Oil level 2 inches equal to 17.17 candles. 

Oil level 14 inches equal to 18.87 candles. 


[Indorsement by General Meigs.] 


Conclusive: 4-inch oil level gives one-half light of 2 inches level. 
Strike out the specifications requiring 4 inches level. 

M. 0. MEIGS. 


Q. M. G. O., May 23, 1881. 


New York, May 26, 1881. 

Dear Sir: We have your favor of 24th, and shall take pleasure in 
obtaining such additional information as you request as soon as pos¬ 
sible. The former tests were made, as we wrote you, with the wick at 
uniform height above the burner, but no memorandum was made of 
length of flame. We have ordered another test with such record as 
your letter would indicate as desirable, and will send you as soon as 
received. 

Very respectfully, yours, 

Manhattan Brass Company. 

J. H. WHITE, President. 

General M. C. Meigs. 


New York, May 30, 1881. 

Dear Sir : We sent copy of your request of the 24th instant to the 
gentleman who made photometric tests for us, with the request to make 
the answer as full and complete as possible. 

We inclose herewith reply just received. If it does not satisfactorily 
answer all questions, please advise, and we will endeavor to obtain all 
you may desire. 

Very respectfully, yours, 

Manhattan Brass Company. 

J. H. WHITE, President. 

To give you a better idea of the different changes produced in the 
light in changing the level of oil in the burner, I would first state that 
the average production of light obtained in a lamp having its level of 
oil, say from 3 inches to 4 inches below the surface of burner,’"depends 




63 


altogether upon quality of oil used. A common oil of 100° flash test,* 
owing to the large amount of naphtha in it, would flame higher and 
brighter in a warm room, in connection with the gradual heating of the 
burner, than an oil of 140° flash test. 

In a lamp placed in a cold room, say temperature from 50° to G0° 
Fahr., the oil level should not be less or below 1J inches from the surface 
of burner. If the temperature of the room is above that, and with the 
additional heating of the lamp, 2 inches level would produce the same 
result in height of flame and brilliancy. The difference observed in the 
flames of various oil varies in height as well as in brilliancy. I will 
relate the manner in which I made the foregoing test, being so simple 
that without the iihotometrical apparatus it can be readily ascertained. 

The temperature of the dark room was 53° Fahr.; the burner was 
adjusted to a student lamp, oil level at 2 inches; having burned for 
about one hour, the wick gradually turned up, to obtain the best possible 
light; the latter was fully three-sixteenths inch above the burner. When 
the first photometrical test was made, the flame above the wick was 
1J inches in height, appeared to be white, but without brilliancy, as re¬ 
sults have shown. To change gradually the different heights of the oil, 
stems of the different heights were made, having at the lower end at¬ 
tached a round piece of sheet tin, size of a quarter dollar, the latter to 
keep the font level at its bottom end; the stem was slid over the pro¬ 
jecting wire, forming part of the valve which admits and shuts off the 
oil in the font. After each photometrical test, the font was removed and 
the oil was taken out and replaced after the stem was properly adjusted, 
to be certain of the oil level. In each case it was plainly visible without 
moving lamp or wick. The flame would raise in height and brilliancy; 
at the last test the flame was fully 4J inches in height. To depend on 
a thick wick as a substitute to a high level, which is frequently done to 
assist the capillarity of the oil to supply the burning flame. This very 
often is believed, that the required difference in height is obtained be¬ 
cause a high flame with a low level is produced; but this is a mistake. 
In all cases where a high flame is formed in that manner it will have a 
dim appearance, consuming a large amount of oil, of which a great por¬ 
tion is lost in an invisible but offensive smoke, and very defective in the 
illuminating power. 


War Department, 
Quartermaster-General’s Office, 

Washington , D. C., January 7, 1884. 

Sir : I have the honor to request that you will please cause careful 
photometric test to be made of accompanying mineral oil lamp, to 
which is fitted Mitrailleuse burner, and accompanying which is a can 
of mineral oil having a flash test of about 140° Fahr., and specific grav¬ 
ity of about 47° Baume. 


United States uses 135° flask. 





64 


It is desired that the photometric power of this burner be noted 
when the lamp is filled to the level of the bottom of the brass collar 
which is 3| inches from bottom of the flame, and at each successive 
increase of 1 inch of the level of the oil until the lamp is nearly empty. 

Two extra chimneys are furnished herewith for use in case of break¬ 
age. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. B. HOLABIRD, 
Quartermaster-General, TJ. S. A. 

S. Calvert Ford, Esq., 

United States Inspector of Gas , 

No. 403 Tenth Street Nortliivest , 

Washington , D. G. 


Office of the 

United States Inspector of Gas and Meters, 
Washington , Z>. (7., January 14, 1884. 

Sir : Your communication with lamp and oil received. In reply I 
have the honor to inform you that I have made photometric determin¬ 
ations on the Bunsen photometer, with the mineral oil lamp, to which 
is fitted a Mitrailleuse burner; the power of the light furnished by 
lamp was compared with a standard sperm candle burning 120 grains 
per hour. The following results were obtained. 

Experiment No. 1.—In this test the lamp was nearly filled with oil; 
the flame was uniformly high during the entire time required to make 
twenty observations, and the illuminating power was found to equal 
20.36 standard candles ; rate of oil consumed, 1,245 grains per hour. 

Experiment No. 2.—In this test the oil in lamp was 1 inch lower' 
than in Experiment No. 1; the flame was fair, but could not be main¬ 
tained at the same height as in the former test; the illuminating power 
was found to equal 15.81 standard candles; rate of oil consumed, 963 
grains per hour. 

Experiment No. 3. —In this test the oil in lamp was 2 inches lower 
than in Experiment No. 1; the flame was not near so good as in Experi¬ 
ment No. 2; the illuminating power was found to equal 10.04 standard 
candles; rate of oil consumed, 843 grains per hour. 

In Experiment No. 1, 61.14 grains of oil yielded a photogenic power 
equal to one sperm candle burning 120 grains per hour. 

In Expeniment No. 2, 60.90 grains of oil yielded a photogenic power 
equal to one sperm candle burning 120 grains per hour. 

In Experiment No. 3, 83.96 grains of oil yielded a photogenic power 
equal to one sperm caudle burning 120 grains per hour. In the first 
and second experiment, the photogenic power obtained was about the 



65 


same for an equal consumption of oil; but in the third experiment the 
photogenic power was not near so good. 

Very respectfully, 

S. CALVERT FORD, 
Inspector of Gas and Meters. 

General S. B. Holabird, 

Quartermaster-General, TJ. S. A. 


War Department, 
Quartermaster-General’s Office, 

Washington, D. G., January 16, 1884. 

My Dear General : In accordance with your request of the 15th 
ultimo, herewith is furnished for your inspection mineral oil lamp, to 
which is attached a Mitrailleuse burner, recommended by new Board 
on Lamps for adoption in the Army; and your attention is invited to 
accompanying report, made upon your suggestion, by the United States 
inspector of gas and meters in this city, as to photometric power of the 
burner in question. 

The report of the Board is returned herewith for such additional 
notes thereon as you may desire to make. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. B. HOLABIRD, 
Quartermaster-General, TJ. S. A. 

Brig. Gen. M. C. Meigs, U. S. A. (retired), 

No. 1239 Vermont Avenue , Washington, D. G. 


Washington, D. C., January 21,1884. 

General: I return the Mitrailleuse 12-wick lamp, which I have ex¬ 
amined and tried; also the report of the Board of Officers recommend¬ 
ing its adoption for Army use, and the report of tests of its consumption 
of oil and its illuminating power at the United States laboratory by the 
Government gas inspector for the District, Mr. Ford. 

This report confirms my opinion that, as the level of oil falls in this 
lamp, which is not a constant-level lamp, the illuminating power and 
the consumption of oil will decrease. 

He finds with a full lamp a light of 20.36 candles, with oil consump¬ 
tion of 2.84 ounces per hour. When oil surface is one inch lower, light 
15.81 candles, consumption per hour 2.20 ounces. This is the mean 
height, and, therefore, probably mean average light and consumption 
of oil. When oil surface is two inches lower than when full, light is 
10.4, consumption of oil is 1.92 ounces per hour. 

The United States Army regulation constant-level lamp, with seven- 
eighths inch argand burner, gives, as per report of Board, when not 
15181 L o-5 




66 


pressed beyond its proper rate of burning, experiment No. 39 of their 
tabular statement, 16.83 candle light, with consumption of 2 ounces oil 
per hour—less oil and more light than the average of Mitrailleuse. If 
a stronger light is needed for any special situation or work, an argand 
burner of 1 inch or of 1J inches in diameter can be used, which will give 
a much stronger light. These experiments show that the universally 
preferred argand or student-lamp burner is as economical as the Mitrail¬ 
leuse, whde it is of much less complicated construction, and on a great 
scale will probably be less costly both in construction and in consump¬ 
tion of oil. 

I find on examination of this burner that the open central tube through 
which the vapor escapes from the space above the oil in body of the 
lamp is practically, in use, intended to be closed, though not quite air¬ 
tight, by the inserted metallic stem of the brass deflecting button in 
the middle of the flame. This stopper prevents explosion while in place, 
but as it is liable to be displaced by accident, by carelessness, or igno¬ 
rance of its importance, it must be a source of danger. It would be im¬ 
proved if a loose-fltting screw-thread were cut in stem and in pipe. 
This lamp is liable to be filled with an explosive mixture of air and 
vapor, and to be lighted without this loose stopper being in place. 

If this happens an explosion must follow. Were it not for this danger 
I should consider the burner a good one for a portable lamp. There 
are situations in which such a lamp, which can be carried about and set 
upon a table or mantel shelf, is useful. But for lighting up the barrack 
rooms of troops safely is all important. The regulation lamp is safe and 
gives as cheap a light, and with same consumption of oil, one quite as bril¬ 
liant. It cannot be detached from its support and set upon a table to 
be upset or broken. I understand that the missile most tempting to a 
drunken man is a lamp. 

The Mitrailleuse casts a wide shadow, from which the regulation lamp 
is free. 1 find that standing on a table the Mitrailleuse shadow is 9f 
inches in diameter; raised 1 foot above the table it is 21J inches wide; 
this makes a hood or reflecting shade necessary, which costs money and 
which absorbs a very large portion of the light produced by the flame. 

The flame is 1J inches in diameter, and at 2£ inches in height I find 
the consumption of oil to be in ordinary use 2J ounces per hour, the 
temperature of tlie room being from 62J° to 67£°. Trying the regulation 
Army lamp with seven-eighths inches argand burner, flame 4 inches tall, 
I find consumption of oil to be 12 ounces in six hours, a perfectly regular 
rate of 2 ounces per hour, without any variation in height or brilliancy 
of the flame, and this continues without refilling the lamp for nineteen 
hours. Regulating the flame to be 2 inches tall, the flame continued 
brilliant and steady at that height during six hours, the duration of the 
experiment, and the actual consumption 8f ounces of oil, a rate of 1.441 
ounces per hour. The double pendent regulation lamp will give, with 
a consumption of 4 ounces per hour, a light of 33§ candles, and can be 


regulated to give any less light with correspondingly reduced expense 
of oil. The suspension frame for the Mitrailleuse lamp contains 5 feet 
of one-halt inch gas-tube, against 2 feet of the same in the double pend* 
ent regulation lamp of 33§ candle power, and against 1 foot of the same 
in the regulation bracket lamp of 10.83 candle power. The spun and 
pierced metal bowl, glass font, burner, and other parts, cannot be much, 
if at all, less costly than those of the regulation lamp. The bracket 
recommended for the Mitrailleuse is evidently more expensive than the 
regulation bracket. Considering performance, economy of supply, and 
maintenance and safety, I see no sufficient reason to justify the recom¬ 
mendation of the Board to substitute the Mitrailleuse for the argand 
lamp, and it seems to me that it would be imprudeut to allow the use in 
United States barracks of a lamp liable as the Mitrailleuse is to danger¬ 
ous accident. The 12-wick Mitrailleuse burner is practically an argand 
burner composed of 12 parallel threads kept separate in order to allow 
the admission of air between the threads to the interior of the flame when 
the burner is used upon a bowl or vase and not upon a tube, stem, or 
branch. It has no advantages over the argand burner except its appli¬ 
cability to a lamp of the form reported on by the Board. The flame 
splits into 12 tails at the top. I find that the example before me will not 
bear without smoking a greater height of flame than about 2£ inches; 
its light when full of oil is 20^ candles, and consumption per hour 2.84 
ounces of oil. The regulation Army constant level lamp with J inch 
wick gives 1GJ candles, or rather less than 2 ounces oil. The Light- 
House Board has a lamp with wick If inch diameter giving 54 candle 
light with 4£ ounces oil per hour; others of various sizes and various 
consumption of oil. Greater light can be had for the regulation Army 
lamp by diminishing the height of wick tube above oil level, but this 
will be attended with greater risk of overflow and spilling of oil. I 
conclude that when a vase and portable lamp is needed the Mitrailleuse 
is an ingenious and effective burner, but complicated and somewhat 
dangerous in itself, and subject to all the objections for barrack rooms 
which attend table and portable mineral oil lamps. Its safety would 
be increased by fitting the stem of the deflecting button into the pipe 
in the center of the burner by a well cut but loose screw, one which 
would prevent the stopper from being lifted out without unscrewing it, 
and yet be loose enough to allow the entrance of a thread of air along 
the circuitous passage of the threads of the screw. 

I return all papers herein. 

I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

M. C. MEIGS, 

Bvt. Maj. Gen ., U. S. A., Brig. Gen. [retired). 

General S. B. Holabikd, 

Quartermaster-General, TJ. S. A. 


68 


Washington, D. 0., January 24, 1884. 

Dear Sir: I wish to add to my note of January 21, in reference to 
the Army lamp, that after it was closed I compared with a rude pho¬ 
tometric apparatus the light of a Mitrailleuse when nearly empty, the 
oil level being then 0.84 inches lower than in Mr. Ford’s experiment 
No. 3, and found the light of the Mitrailleuse lamp to be 6.2 candles only. 

I estimate the oil levels in these tests to have been below top of 
burner— 

No. 1.—3.94 inches; light, 20.36 candles. 

No. 2.—4.94 inches; light, 15.81 candles. 

No. 3.-5.94 inches; light, 10.04 candles. 

No. 4.—6.78 inches ; light, 6.20 candles. 

which is a loss of nearly 5 candle-light for each inch depression below 
No. 1. The average light during the life of a charge of oil is thus about 
13.1 caudles against a steady light of 16.82 candles. 

The consumption of oil through the whole life of one charge of oil, 
u 17£ hours,” was 2J ounces per hour. Average light, 13.1 candles. 
The Army lamp consumed 2 ounces per hour, with a regular and con¬ 
stant light of 16.82 candles. 

The report of the Quartermaster-General for 1882, page 11, shows 
there are in use— 

Burners. 


5,156 bracket lamps.. 5 ? 156 

1,782 pendent double lamps. 3,564 

Total in Army... g 720 

which used 216,414J gallons of oil. 


If the Mitrailleuse be substitued, its consumption being 2J ounces 
instead of 2 ounces per hour, or 25 per cent, greater, the consumption 
of oil would be 25 per cent, greater, or 270,518.1 gallons, an increase of 
54,103.6 gallons, costing, at piesent contract rates, 19 cents per gallon, 
$10,279.68, which does not promise any great economy for the substitu¬ 
tion of the Mitrailleuse for the argand burner lamp. But the greatest 
objection is the danger of using in barracks a portable table lamp. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

M. O. MEIGS, 

Bvt. Maj. Gen., U. 8. A., Brig. Gen . {retired). 

General S. B. Holabird, 

Quartermaster-General, U. S. A. 


[Manhattan Brass Company, First Avenue, Twenty-seventh to Twenty-eighth 

streets. ] 

New York, January 25, 1884. 

Dear Sir : Yours at hand. There are practically grave objections 
to the 12-wick burner. In the first place, it is very difficult to wick 






69 


the burner, taking about half an hour. Then it will not, unless very 
carefully trimmed and handled with great care, burn at all evenly j 
then some of the wick naturally chars and the burner throws otf smoke 
instead of clear light. This is very objectionable in the Army, where 
everything needing careiul treatment, with the naturally rough usage, 
will make them soon useless. 

It also burns with such great heat that only a metal lamp will stand 
it, and altogether is for such use impracticable. 

******* 


Yours, 

General M. 0. Meigs, 

Washington , D. C. 


J. H. CBAYE, Tr. 


[Extract from a letter from the Manhattan Brass Company, makers of the regulation 

lamp.] 

I had no occasion to put a wick in, and during my short trials the 
burner behaved well, though its light continually and regularly de¬ 
creased from hour to hour. 

M. C. MEIGS, 

Bvt. Maj. Gen. U. 8. A ., Brig. Gen. [retired). 
The Quartermaster-General, IJ. S. Army, 

Washington , D. C. 


War Department, 
Quartermaster-General’s Office, 

Washington , D. (7., February 19, 1884. 

General : The Equipment Board in this office having, pursuant to 
your instructions, maturely considered the question of any change in 
the mode of lighting Army barracks, has the honor to submit the fol¬ 
lowing report: 

The following papers relating to the subject which were referred to 
the Board have been carefully considered by it, viz: 

First. The report of Board on Lamps, convened in Yew York City by 
Special Order Yo. 127, Adjutant-General’s Office, June 4, 1883, which 
recommends the substitution of the Mitrailleuse burner with glass bowl 
for that now in use known as the ; ‘Army lamp.” 

Second. “ Yotes on the Army lamp,” by Bvt. Maj. Gen. M. 0. Meigs, 
late Quartermaster-General, United States Army. 

Third. Keport of a photometric test of the Mitrailleuse burner, made 
by the United States inspector of gas and meters in this city. 

The opinion of the Yew York Board as to the merits of the Mitrail¬ 
leuse burner may be summed up as follows: 

1. Its high candle power. 




70 


2. Its economy in consumption of oil. 

3. Its adaptability for burning in an ordinary font the heavy grade of 
oil furnished to the Army, thus dispensing with constant level lamps, 
of which the present Army lamp is a type—the great capillarity of the 
wicks being sufficiently strong to draw the heavy oil high enough above 
its natural level to empty an ordinary lamp font. 

In the opinion of the Equipment Board the objections to the Mitrail¬ 
leuse burner with glass font, recommended by the New York Board, as 
compared with the Army lamp, may be summarized as follows: 

The wicks are raised and lowered with a ratchet, an objectionable 
feature as compared with the mode of raising the wick which obtains in 
the Army lamp on account of liability of ratchet to get out of order. 

The Mitrailleuse burner is recommended by the New York Board to 
be used with the common capillary or well lamp bowl; and that Board 
refers to its great capillarity as a commendable feature compared with 
the constant-level principle ; assuming it to be preferable to draw the 
oil by capillary attraction from 4 to 6 inches or more, as the case may 
be, than from 2 inches as in the Army lamp. 

In the latterthe oil is prevented from becoming hot, and thereby liable 
to flash or take fire, by a constant influx,of cold air through opening 
in drip-cup, and through the tube around which the oil is conducted 
from the font to the point of combustion. 

In the Mitrailleuse burner the large number of wicks, the trouble in 
wicking the tubes, the difficulty in maintaining a steady flame, the lia¬ 
bility of the ratchet to get out of order, the danger of explosion by rea¬ 
son of deflecting button in gas or vapor tube becoming displaced, or 
by conduction of heat downward by the brass tubes holding the wicks, 
and the danger to be experienced by having the lamp portable, are, in 
the judgment of the Equipment Board, objections so grave as to forbid 
the recommendation for its adoption for Army use. 

It is exceedingly difficult to maintain a steady light with the Mitrail¬ 
leuse burner for any great length of time—slight incrustations likely to 
form upon any one of the many wicks cause the wicks to burn unevenly, 
the flame to dart up the chimney, and the lamp to smoke and emit an 
unpleasant odor; to remedy which, either the chimney must be removed 
(a disagreeable operation on account of the intense heat thereof and of 
the surrounding brass-work), or the light must be turned down to 
accommodate the smoking wick, thereby greatly reducing the power 
of the light. 

Another great objection is the mode of attaching the burner to the 
glass fout by plaster of Paris, which, after becoming saturated with 
the oil, is liable to granulate and cause the collar to work loose. 

On account of the construction of the Mitrailleuse lamp as recom¬ 
mended by the New York Board, a shadow is necessarily cast over a 
considerable area beneath, whereas but little perceptible shadow is 
thrown by the Army lamp. 


71 


The photogenic power of the Mitrailleuse burner, as stated by the 
New York Board (see table herewith), was not confirmed by test made 
of that burner by the United States inspector of gas and meters in this 
city, Mf. S. Calvert Ford, an expert, with full photometric equipment, 
Bunsen’s photometer being used. 

The New York Board gave the power of the Mitrailleuse burner as 
follows: Candle power, 22; oil consumed per hour, 2.7 ounces; oil con¬ 
sumed per hour per candle power, .1227 ounce, when tested with bowl 
lamp. 

Mr. Ford determined the power of the Mitrailleuse burner to be as 
follows: 

With full lamp, oil 3j inches from bottom of flame, candle power, 
20.36; consumption of oil, 2.84 ounces per hour ; oil consumed per hour 
per candle power, .1394 ounce. With oil 4| inches from bottom of flame, 
candle power, 15.81; consumption of oil, 2.20 ounces per hour; oil con¬ 
sumed per hour per caudle power, .1391 ounce. With oil 5§ inches 
from bottom of flame, candle power, 10.04; consumption of oil, 1.92 
ounces per hour; oil consumed per hour per candle power, .1912 ounce. 

The Army lamp with wick seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, 
against that of the Mitrailleuse burner of 1J inches in diameter, con¬ 
sumes less than 2 ounces of oil per hour, and emits a steady, brilliant 
light of 17 to 18 candles for more than sixteen hours without refilling, 
and without danger from explosion. 

The power of the Army lamp can be greatly increased by increasing 
the size of the wick. 

Constant level lamps with argand burners, such as the Army lamp, 
have stood the test of public trial and given satisfaction, and are fast 
superseding lamps used with ordinary bowl font, on account of safety, 
ease of operation, and increased light. 

The Mitrailleuse burner and modifications thereof have, it is learned, 
been tested by dealers, and generally discarded on account of danger 
likely to result from the lamp becoming heated and the other objections 
herein stated. 

We read daily of explosions of lamps constructed on the old bowl 
plan, such as that recommended by the New York Board; but rarely 
does an accident occur with student lamps or constant level lamps, for 
the reason that the gas, as soon as generated in the spiral tube, becomes 
ignited, and instead of exploding aids the lamps in emitting a steady 
and brilliant light; whereas in the bowl lamp, of which the Mitrailleuse 
is a sample, volatile gas must of necessity accumulate in the bowl, and 
in case of displacement of deflecting button, might, it is believed, fre¬ 
quently cause explosions. 

The Army lamp has proved to be a success. Complaint has, how¬ 
ever, been made because of frequent breakage of chimneys, but since 
a better class of chimney has been provided, less complaints have been 
received and requisitions therefor have been materially reduced. 


72 


Inasmuch as the Army lamp, the result of much careful thought and 
study, appears to be giving general satisfaction, no sufficient reason is, 
in the opinion of the Equipment Board, shown for displacing the same 
by a lamp having so many objections and so few merits as the*Mitrail- 
leuse. 

The New York Board says that great improvements have been made 
during the last few years in devices for burning kerosene oil. 

The Army lamp was adopted for use in the Army about two and one- 
half years ago, and upwards of 8,000 thereof have been purchased there¬ 
for at a cost, including fixtures, in round numbers of $40,000. 

The Army appears to be satisfied therewith. It is fair to presume 
that improvements may be made in the Army lamp as in all other in¬ 
ventions and projects. Recognizing this fact, the Equipment Board is 
of opinion that it would hardly be wise to discard a lamp which gives 
great satisfaction, and to supply the Army with which has cost many 
thousands of dollars, for another lamp which in turn would be likely 
to be superseded by still another modification. 

In view of all the facts presented, the Equipment Board recom¬ 
mends that no present change be made in the mode adopted for light¬ 
ing company barracks. 

J. G. chandler. 

Deputy Quartermaster- General. 

O. G. SAWTELLE, 

Deputy Quartermaster-General, U. S. A. 

R. N. BATCHELDER, 
Deputy Quartermaster-General) U. S. A. 

JOHN F. RODGERS, 
Captain and Military Storekeeper) Recorder. 

The Quartermaster-General, 

United States Army . 

These proceedings are approved. 

S. B. HOLABIRD, 

Quartermaster-General) U. S. A. 


War Department, 
Quartermaster-General’s Office, 

Washington , March 7, 1884. 

Respectfully returned to the Adjutant-General of the Army, inviting 
attention to accompanying report of the Equipment Board of this office, 
in whose opinion, which coincides with that of the first Board on Lamps 
(copy herewith), as to the superiority of the constant level principle in 
lamps which is embodied in the present Army lamp, the Quartermas¬ 
ter-General fully concurs. 

In view of the importance to the Army of the question of lighting 
barracks, the Quartermaster-General suggests and recommends that a 



73 


statement showing action had in this matter since the project of using 
mineral oil in place of candles was first considered by the War Depart¬ 
ment be published for information of the Army; and with a view to 
this end, a brief sketch of the action had in the case prior to adoption 
of present Army lamp, including report of Governor’s Island Board and 
a fair copy of report of New York Board, with notes thereon, and of * 
report of the Equipment Board in this office, prepared for the printer, 
are herewith. 

S. B. HOLABIRD, 
Quartermaster-General U. 8. A. 

Headquarters of the Army, 
Washington , D. (7., March 15, 1884. 

Respectfully submitted to the honorable Secretary of War, concur¬ 
ring in the indorsement of the Quartermaster-General. 

P. H. SHERIDAN, 

Lieutenant - General. 

Respectfully returned to the Quarter master-General, approving his 
recommendation. 

By order of the Secretary of War. 

JOHN TWEEDALE, 

Chief Cleric. 

War Department, March 17,1884. 

15181 L o-G 

O 








SPECIFICATIONS 


FOR 

LAMPS FOR MILITARY POSTS. 

The lamps shall he of two patterns—the Pendant two burner and the single¬ 
burner bracket lamp , and are intended to burn the Army Standard 
Mineral Oil of flash point not less than 135° Fahrenheit. 


Pendant two-burner Lamp. 

Form and material .—To be of form and materials according to the 
standard sample. 

Font-holder. —The font-holder (part No. 1) to be made of sheet brass 
No 22 (American standard gauge), and to be put together with hard 
solder, i. e., to be brazed and spun over to harden and stiffen the holder. 
Diameter at top, four and a half (4J) inches; at base, two and a half (2J) 
inches; at center, three and five-eighths (3f) inches, gradually increasing 
and diminishing respectively to the above dimeusions. The top to be 
slightly flared and its edge turned over to form a bead one-eighth (i.) of 
an inch in diameter. Holes for wire arms to be oue fourth (J) of an inch 
in diameter, and to be on opposite sides of the holder, at a distance of one 
(1) inch from the top. Air vent-hole, one-eighth (-J-) of an inch in diameter, 
pierced oue and five-eighths (If) inch from the top. Arms (part No. 2) 
to be of No. 3 standard gauge brass wire, drawn hard, with eyes bent on 
ends one-half (J) inch in diameter, tips pointed. Base of arms to pass 
through east and turned brass sockets (part No. 3) and be securely riveted 
on interior of font-holder. The brass socket to be one (1) inch long, three 
fourths (3) of an inch diameter at base, one-half (J) inch diameter at 
smaller end, and be milled off so as to fit surface of font-holder and be 
soft-soldered to it. Spread of arms about eleven (11) inches. Bottom 
(part No. 4) to be a brass casting, turned on the interior so as to fit lower 
edge of font-holder, and be turned, all on the outside. The inside surface 
at the branch-holes to be raised to a height of about one fourth (£) of an 
inch, full, to afford proper support.to the branches when connected. The 
holes for branches to be of proper size and to be one and nine-sixteenth s 
(1-!%) inch apart, measured from center to center. This bottom casting 
to weigh not less than five and one-half (oj) ounces, and be attached to 
the font-holder with soft-solder. 


2439 


75 



76 


Branches. —Two branches (part No. 5) to be made from brass tube of 
gauge No. 14, American standard, one-half (J) inch outside diameter, and 
weighing about four and a half (4J1 ounces to the foot. Soft-soldered to 
the bottom of font-holder, and extending from it in a curve to the burners, 
to which they shall be attached also with soft-solder. The burner end of 
each branch to be provided with a cast connection (part No. 6), milled and 
fitted to same so as to form a strong and tight joint. Distance between 
center of burner and center of font-holder eight and one-half (8f) inches. 
Depth of curve of branch about four (4) inches from bottom of font- 
holder. 

The suspending supports (part No. 7) to consist of two (2) brass-wire 
rods and a ring* all of gauge No. 9. The rods to be fourteen and three- 
quarters (14f) inches long when finished, bent in half (|) inch eyes on 
ring, and having half (J) inch S hooks, with tapered points on ends to 
hold the font-holder arms. Inside diameter of ring one and a half (If) 
inch. 

Burner .—Argand burner according to pattern. Diameter of oil-reser¬ 
voir (part No. 8), one (1) inch, gauge No. 26. Length, five (5) inches ; 
pitch of threads, two (2) to the inch; depth of thread, three thirty-seconds 
(A) °f an inch; width of thread, three thirty-seconds ftft-) of an inch; 
gauge of metal where oil-drip screws on, No. 21, made from seamless tube. 
Center tube (part No. 9), five-eighths (f) of an inch diameter, gauge No. 
20; length five and a half (5f) inches, attached to oil-reservoir with 
soft-solder. Oil-drip (part No. 10), one and three-fourths (If) inch in 
diameter, and one and one-fourth (If) inch deep, exclusive of knob; 
gauge of top, No. 20, of bottom shell, No. 24, the latter to be provided 
with a cast-brass knob, and be well tilled with solder to prevent denting 
Wick-raising tube (part No. 11), four and three-fourths (4f) inches long, 
and of diameter to fill oil-reservoir; top closed in to seven-eighths (|) of 
an inch diameter, seamless tube. Chimney-holder (part No. 12), a seam¬ 
less shell, two and one thirty-second (2 3 - I o-) inches in diameter outside; 
gauge, No. 25; height, one (1) inch; shell made to ship chimney-holder 
(part No. 13), according to pattern, gauge No. 24 ; cone to fit shell, gauge 
No. 24. Tube-slide (part No. 14), of gauge No. 26, to fit over thread of 
reservoir and be clinched fast to burner-shell; top part to be closed in 
and riveted to wick-raising tube. The chimney-holder to be made de¬ 
tached from shell, so that it may be lifted off with chimney when light¬ 
ing lamp. 

Reflector. —A brass reflector (one for each lamp), part No. 15, nickle 
plated, gaugeNo.25; diameter, ten (10) inches; depth, three and one-half 
(3f) inches; edge turned over to form a one-eighth (f )inch bead. Chim¬ 
ney-hole, two and one-fourth (2J) inches in diameter. Arms of No. 9 hard 
brass wire, riveted to a solid ring, which shall be two and one thirty-second 
(2^) inches in diameter (inside), five-sixteenths (-ft ) of an inch deep, and 
No. 13 gauge; the ends of arms to be drilled, tapped, and fastened to re¬ 
flector with screws. See also drawing, attached, of reflector of different 
make. 


77 


Font. A heavy flint-glass oil-font of form and dimensions according to 
pattern, about eleven ( 11 ) inches high by about four and a half ( 4 £) inches 
diameter at widest part, the top to be flattened so that the font will stand 
on a level surface unsupported while being filled 5 to have a bead or 
shoulder around it at proper distance from the top to support it on the 
upper edge of font-holder when in position ; to have an opening at bot¬ 
tom, with funnel-shaped mouth, for convenience in filling, provided with 
self-acting valve in conformity with drawings and model. Capacity of 
font, three (3) pints. 

Chimneys .—For each burner a chimney of the best flint-glass accord¬ 
ing to pattern ; length about ten and one-half ( 10 J) inches; diameter at 
base (inside) one and three-fourths (If) inch, with shoulder at height of 
about two and one-eighth ( 2 J) inches; upper flue, about one and one- 
eighth ( 1 J) inch diameter. 

The various parts of the lamp to be uniform, so that those of one will 
fit another, and the whole to correspond in design, finish, and construc¬ 
tion with the drawings and the standard sample, and to be in no partic¬ 
ular inferior to the latter. Where any differences are found to exist 
between the drawings and sample, the latter shall govern. 

Each lamp when delivered shall be provided with wicks and be in 
complete order and ready for use upon being filled with oil. 

For the guidance of manufacturers the weights of the various parts 
of the lamp are given below : 


No. of 
the part. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 


Name of part. 

Pounds. 

Ounces. 

One font-holder......-........ 


1311 

3ft 

m 

5ft 

10ft 

xi 

5ft 

2ig 

211 

2ft 

2 

2 

7ft 

10ft 

Two font-holder arms .. ......._......_......_...... 


Two font-holder arm sockets......... 


One font-holder bottom _ __..............._______ 


Two branches ............ 


Twn lira noli AnnTiftp.t.inn soelcefcs _ _ .____ 


Suspendinsupports ...._......._......._.................. 


Two oil cylinders ............................_____ 


HTwa p.ftntAr +,nViAS_ .: __...________... 


Two oil-drips _-_- .- -............ 


Two wick-raisin^ tubes _-..-----. 


Two tube-slides ......... 


Two shells - _ _-. . _..-...-.. 


Two chimney holders .... 




J Reflector (one) .... ..................... .... 


1 font (one) not less than - _..... 

’ 2 

Total weight of lamp complete .. ... 


6 

10 



Exclusive of the glass parts (the font and chimneys), which are liable 
to vary considerably in weight, the average lamp should weigh, when 
finished, about four pounds and two and a half ouuces (4 lbs. 2J oz.). 


Single-burner Bracket Lamp. 

Font-holder .—The font-holder to be as described for double-burner 
lamps, except that it be without wire arms, and have but one branch 
and burner. 

Other parts .—The burner, glass font, branch, chimney, and reflector 
to be as described for the double-burner lamp. 































78 


Bracket .—A japanned, malleable-iron supporting bracket, with socket 
to receive font-holder, according to the standard sample. Weight of 
bracket about thirteen ounces (13 oz.). 

The weight of the bracket lamp to be the same as given for the double¬ 
burner pendant lamp, deducting that of the suspending supports, the 
arms of font-holder, and one branch, with its burner and chimney, and 
adding that of the bracket—making its average weight (exclusive of 
font and chimney) about three pounds and eight ounces (3 lbs. 8 oz.). 
(Signed) JOHN F. RODGERS, 

Captain and M. S. K ., XJ. IS. A. 

Philadelphia Depot of the 

Quartermaster's Department, 

Philadelphia , October 7, 1881. 


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